As the 2026 wildfire season reaches its peak intensity, more than 22,751 firefighting personnel are currently assigned to incidents across the United States, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The Pacific Northwest — home to 29 of the nation's 78 active large fires — is consuming a disproportionate share of those national resources, drawing down personnel pools and equipment inventories that agencies across the country depend on.
Personnel and Equipment on the Ground
The scale of deployment is illustrated clearly by the Big Grass Fire alone on the Oregon-Idaho border. As of August 22, that single fire had 566 personnel assigned, along with 7 hand crews, 22 dozers, 32 engines, 22 water tenders, and 1 helicopter. Multiply that across the 29 large fires burning in the Northwest and it becomes clear why national resource coordinators are working around the clock to allocate firefighters from across the country to meet demand.
Nationally, the NIFC reported 113 new fire starts in a single 24-hour period on August 21-22, including 11 new large fires. Six fires were brought to containment during the same period.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Take on Larger Role
One of the more notable operational developments of the 2026 fire season is the expanded role of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) — commonly known as drones — in fire operations. On the Big Grass Fire, UAS platforms are being used to locate hotspots deep within the fire's interior that would otherwise require dangerous helicopter or hand crew access. The drone-identified hotspots are then transmitted to ground crews for targeted mop-up.
UAS technology has also proven invaluable for reconnaissance in rugged, remote terrain like the Wenatchee National Forest, where the Little Giant Fire is burning in steep country northwest of Leavenworth. Fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters continue to perform retardant drops and water bucket operations on multiple Northwest incidents.
Prepositioning Strategy Under Pressure
NIFC has emphasized that "prepositioning firefighters and firefighting resources strategically for initial attack" is a critical management consideration during the busiest part of the fire season. However, that strategy must be balanced against the enormous resource demand from existing large fires. When resources are committed to large fire management, fewer are available for initial attack — potentially allowing new starts to escape containment and grow into tomorrow's large fires.
The challenge is particularly acute this year. With fires burning simultaneously from the Pacific Northwest to the Southern Plains, and from Florida to Alaska, national resource coordination has become increasingly complex. Ten geographic areas nationwide are each reporting at least one large fire simultaneously for the first time in years.
Mutual Aid and International Resources
Mutual aid agreements between states and federal agencies have been activated to help meet demand. When domestic resources are insufficient, the United States can also draw on international firefighting resources through agreements with Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other nations. Incident Management Teams from multiple regions have been deployed to the Northwest to provide organizational support on complex incidents.
The USDA and DOI have both emphasized that supporting and protecting firefighters is their highest priority. Firefighting personnel working in extreme heat, rugged terrain, and hazardous smoke conditions face significant physical and mental health challenges during extended deployments. Agency wellness programs and mandatory rest periods are in place to reduce the risk of fatigue-related injuries.