The 2026 wildland fire season continued its devastating march toward historic records on Monday, with the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) reporting that 54,407 fires have burned 8,435,367 acres nationwide through September 14 — representing 123 percent of the 10-year average number of fires and 149 percent of the 10-year average acres burned for this point in the season.

As of Tuesday morning, 57 large fires remain uncontained across 14 states, with 13,100 personnel actively engaged in suppression efforts. The National Multi-Agency Coordination Group has set the National Preparedness Level at 3 (PL 3) on a scale of 1 to 5 — a decrease from the peak PL 5 reached in early August, reflecting modest improvement in overall fire conditions as the season approaches its traditional mid-September transition.

Pacific Northwest Leads the Nation

The Pacific Northwest remains the epicenter of the 2026 fire crisis. Washington state currently leads all states with 12 large uncontained fires, followed by Montana with 9, Oregon with 8, and Idaho with 7. Combined, these four states account for more than half of all active large fires in the country.

Oregon has surpassed 2.3 million acres burned statewide this season — a new all-time record, eclipsing the previous record of 2,081,661 acres set in 2024. Washington has seen nearly 30 active fires burn across more than 400,000 acres, prompting Governor Ferguson to declare a statewide wildfire emergency on August 1 and issue a statewide burn ban.

Nationwide Context

Active large fires across the country span from Texas to Wyoming to California, though the highest concentration and most resources remain focused on the Northwest:

  • Washington: 12 large uncontained fires
  • Montana: 9 large uncontained fires
  • Oregon: 8 large uncontained fires
  • Idaho: 7 large uncontained fires
  • California: 4 large fires (including the Plaskett Fire at 29,961 acres, 89% contained)
  • Texas: 3 large fires (including the Ross Fire at 90,400 acres, 88% contained)

Approximately 2.5 million acres are currently burning in active perimeters across all states combined.

Season Comparison

The scale of 2026 is stark when compared to recent seasons. Through September 14 of each year:

  • 2026: 54,407 fires / 8,435,367 acres
  • 2025: 49,462 fires / 4,377,661 acres
  • 2024: 36,855 fires / 7,329,660 acres
  • 2023: 42,502 fires / 2,181,540 acres
  • 10-year average: 44,133 fires / 5,678,646 acres

The 2026 season has now surpassed 2017 — previously the modern benchmark for a severe fire year — and shows no signs of a dramatic close. While September historically brings cooling temperatures and increased precipitation to the Northwest, current conditions remain dry across key fire corridors.

Post-Fire Recovery Already Underway

As fires are contained, Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) teams are deploying across the Northwest to assess damage and implement emergency stabilization treatments. BAER specialists — including hydrologists, soil scientists, biologists, and engineers — are evaluating burn scars for erosion risk, watershed threats, and unstable slopes that could endanger downstream communities and infrastructure as fall rains arrive.

NIFC notes that denuded landscapes are at particular risk for topsoil erosion, sediment loading in rivers and streams, and mass movement events. Emergency reseeding and native plant establishment efforts are already underway on several completed Oregon and Washington fires.

Residents and travelers in burned areas should remain aware of post-fire hazards including falling snags, debris flows, and closed forest and public lands. Check InciWeb and local agency websites for current closure information before entering any recently burned area.