The United States is in the grip of an intense wildfire siege, with 72 large fires burning across 14 states as of July 22, 2026, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). More than 1.5 million acres are currently burning nationwide, and 2026 is already one of the most destructive fire years on record.

The Northwest Geographic Area — encompassing Oregon, Washington, and portions of Idaho — is leading the nation in fire activity. Oregon alone accounts for 21 of the 72 active large fires tracked nationally, more than any other state. Idaho has 4 large fires and Washington has 3, bringing the Pacific Northwest total to 28 large fire incidents across the tri-state region.

Year-to-Date Totals Far Outpace Recent History

Through July 22, 2026, a total of 41,236 fires have burned approximately 3.9 million acres across the United States. That compares to 39,038 fires and 2.97 million acres over the same period in 2025 — a roughly 31 percent increase in acreage burned year-over-year. The pace of destruction has prompted both the Northwest and National Preparedness Levels to be raised to 5, the highest tier on the five-point scale.

Lightning Ignites a Cascade of New Fires

A series of dry lightning storms swept through the Pacific Northwest in mid-July, igniting dozens of new fire starts across Oregon and Washington. Thousands of lightning strikes hit the region within days, rapidly touching off blazes across the hot, dry landscape. Fuels in many areas have been drying since late spring amid an expanding drought across Washington and Oregon.

Several new wildfires started in rapid succession and spread quickly in extremely dry conditions. Oregon's two largest fire complexes combined for more than 250,000 acres within days of ignition. Fire behavior analysts at the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center (NWCC) have issued Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisories warning that conditions remain critical across much of the region.

Active Incidents at a Glance

  • Oregon (21 large fires): Akawa Butte, Brewer, Box Springs, Hagen, Horse Ridge, and many others burning in central, eastern, and northeastern Oregon.
  • Washington (3 large fires): Kaiser Canyon (Okanogan County, ~80,000 acres), Modrite (Ferry County, ~8,882 acres), and others expanding in northeastern Washington.
  • Idaho (4 large fires): Multiple fires burning on federal and state land, with human causes cited as the primary driver statewide.
  • Colorado (7 large fires): Including the Gold Mountain Fire in the Uncompahgre National Forest at approximately 38,000 acres.
  • Minnesota (6 large fires): The July 2026 Superior National Forest complex, with over 25 active fires including several inside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Fire managers and incident command teams are working around the clock. The NWCC reports 14 complex incident management teams committed across the Northwest, the majority managing more than one fire simultaneously — a sign of how strained resources have become.

Residents throughout the Pacific Northwest are urged to monitor local emergency management websites and evacuation maps, sign up for county emergency alerts, and keep a go-bag ready at all times. Anyone observing a new fire should call 911 immediately.