The United States wildfire season has reached a critical juncture, with the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) maintaining National Preparedness Level 4 — the second-highest mobilization level — as of Sunday, July 12, 2026. Forty-four large fires are actively burning across 12 states, with the Pacific Northwest accounting for a significant share of the nation's fire burden.
By the Numbers
As of Sunday evening, 15,150 firefighters and support personnel are engaged in nationwide fire suppression operations, supported by 316 crews, 952 engines, and 143 helicopters. All active fires have collectively scorched more than 522,912 acres. Year-to-date, 38,956 fires have burned more than 3.5 million acres across the United States — well above the 10-year average.
Pacific Northwest on the Front Lines
Oregon leads the Northwest with six large fires currently classified as active incidents. Idaho reports five large fires burning, while Washington has one large fire in its official count — though several smaller, fast-moving incidents have generated significant impact in recent weeks. Alaska, which often bears a disproportionate share of annual acreage, currently has eight large fires burning.
Air Assets Deployed
Reflecting the elevated national demand, two MAFFS (Modular Airborne FireFighting System) C-130 airtankers and support personnel from the 146th Airlift Wing of the California Air National Guard have been deployed to San Bernardino and Santa Maria, California, to support wildland fire operations nationally. These military air resources provide critical retardant-dropping capability during periods of peak demand when civilian airtanker fleets are stretched thin.
Dangerous Weather Pattern Persists
NIFC meteorologists warn that above-normal temperatures will continue combining with breezy southwest-to-west winds ranging from 12 to 22 mph, with gusts reaching 30 mph, while afternoon relative humidities drop to just 5–15 percent across the northern Great Basin, northeastern California, southeastern Oregon, the Northern Rockies, and the western tier of the Dakotas. Extreme heat is forecast across lower elevations of the Intermountain West and Northern Great Plains.
Human Ignitions a Concern
NIFC officials are urging the public to take personal responsibility for preventing human-caused ignitions during this critical period. Specific guidance includes checking local fire restrictions before recreating outdoors, avoiding parking vehicles on dry grass, ensuring trailer chains are properly secured to prevent sparks, and fully extinguishing campfires before leaving. Human-caused fires have been confirmed or suspected in several recent Northwest incidents, including the Chelan Hills Fire in Douglas County, Washington, and the Claremont Fire in the Boise Foothills.
Residents throughout the Pacific Northwest are urged to monitor local emergency management channels, sign up for county-level emergency alerts, and maintain evacuation readiness throughout the fire season.