The 2026 wildfire season has cemented its place as one of the most destructive on record, with 53,233 fires burning more than 8.3 million acres across the United States as of September 7, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). Sixty-six large fires remain active across eight geographic areas, with the Pacific Northwest continuing to bear the heaviest burden of the season.

A Season of Historic Scale

The numbers are stark. With three months still to go before the traditional end of fire season, 2026 has already surpassed the acreage totals of most recent years. The National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) has maintained National Preparedness Level 5 — the highest on a five-point scale — for an extended stretch this summer, reflecting the sustained demand on firefighting resources, personnel, and logistics nationwide.

Oregon’s Department of Forestry has described this year’s extended, intense season as the state’s “new normal,” a phrase that has taken on new weight as fire managers contend with back-to-back years of record heat, drought, and early snowmelt across the West.

Where the Fires Are Burning

As of the Monday, September 7 situation report, large fires were burning in the following states:

  • Washington: 13 large fires
  • Idaho: 11 large fires
  • Montana: 10 large fires
  • Oregon: 9 large fires
  • California: 4 large fires
  • Colorado: 3 large fires
  • New Mexico: 3 large fires
  • Oklahoma: 3 large fires
  • Utah: 2 large fires
  • Arizona: 2 large fires

The Pacific Northwest leads all regions, with Washington, Idaho, and Oregon together accounting for 33 of the nation’s 66 active large fires — exactly half the national total.

The Pacific Northwest at the Center

Washington has experienced its worst wildfire season on record by nearly every measure. More than 425,000 acres have burned across the state this year, with over 840 structures destroyed in fires near Spokane in late August. Approximately 64,000 residents were evacuated at the peak of the Spokane-area fire emergency, which prompted the first-ever Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Red Flag Warning in Washington state history.

Idaho and Oregon have also seen unprecedented fire activity. The Big Grass Fire, burning along the shared Idaho-Oregon border, became the largest fire in Oregon state history after torching more than 578,000 acres. That fire is now 93 percent contained as of late August, though mop-up and patrolling continue in Owyhee County.

Slight Respite, But Not Over

Firefighters got some relief this past week as cooler temperatures and isolated precipitation moved across portions of the Northwest. The NIFC reported no new large fires on September 7, and weather models suggest continued moderation across the region in the near term. However, fire managers caution that September historically remains a volatile month in the Northwest as dry east winds can return quickly.

Nationally, critical fire weather conditions persist across the southern Plains, including Oklahoma and Arkansas, where temperatures are forecast to reach 100°F with relative humidity dropping to 25–30 percent and locally breezy winds expected through Tuesday.

Firefighters and support staff — 15,855 personnel in total — remain assigned to active incidents nationwide. The battle is not yet won.