The 2026 wildfire season has broken records at nearly every metric. According to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), as of the week of September 8–12, 2026, there have been 54,136 fires reported nationwide, burning more than 8.4 million acres — a staggering toll that already surpasses the total acreage of some of the worst full seasons on record.

National Fire Situation

The NIFC Incident Management Situation Report published Saturday, September 12, shows the scale of the current crisis:

  • 54,136 fires reported nationwide in 2026 to date
  • 8.4+ million acres burned nationwide — already among the highest totals on record
  • 102 uncontained large fires burning across the country
  • National Preparedness Level: 5 (maximum) — maintained throughout August and into September

For context, last year's fires had burned approximately 4.1 million acres through the same date — less than half of 2026's total. Even the historically severe 2020 season recorded under 4 million acres through the same period.

Pacific Northwest at the Center

The Pacific Northwest has been disproportionately impacted. Oregon, Washington, and Idaho together are home to 38 of the nation's 93 active large fires, including some of the largest and most destructive of the season:

  • Oregon: 33 active large fires — Oregon's 2026 season is the largest on record, with more than 2.3 million acres burned statewide through more than 1,400 fires. That's an area larger than Delaware and Rhode Island combined.
  • Washington: 16 active large fires — Including the destructive Spokane Complex in early August, which destroyed more than 700 structures and forced the evacuation of 65,000 people.
  • Idaho: 8 active large fires — Including the Big Grass Fire on the Idaho-Oregon border, which peaked at more than 578,000 acres before reaching 93% containment in late August.

The Big Grass Fire: Oregon's New Largest on Record

The Big Grass Fire, which ignited from lightning on July 23 in the arid rangelands along the Idaho-Oregon border, burned through more than 578,000 acres of sage-steppe and grassland, making it the largest fire in modern Oregon history. The fire straddled the Owyhee County area of Idaho and portions of southeast Oregon. Governor Brad Little of Idaho declared a disaster emergency, and National Guard resources were deployed to support suppression efforts.

Spokane's August Disaster

In early August, three fast-moving fires ignited simultaneously near Spokane on September 1 during an extreme Red Flag Warning event. Driven by strong winds and explosive fuels, the fires devastated residential neighborhoods. More than 700 structures — homes, businesses, and outbuildings — were destroyed. An estimated 60,000–65,000 people were evacuated from within Spokane city limits alone.

Looking Ahead

The NIFC September outlook warns that above-normal fire danger is expected to persist across much of the Pacific Northwest and Great Basin through the fall. Dry, warm conditions combined with abundant fire-killed vegetation from earlier burns continue to pose significant risks. The Pacific Northwest is expected to see additional large fire growth during any returning warm, dry, and windy periods before the onset of fall rains.