The scale and intensity of the 2026 fire season in the Pacific Northwest has required an extraordinary mobilization of resources — including active-duty military personnel — to support suppression efforts on some of the region's most challenging fires. Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) soldiers are currently deployed in support of wildland fire operations on the Little Giant Fire in Chelan County, Washington, with an Incident Management Organization (IMO) assigned to coordinate the military contingent's efforts alongside civilian crews.

Military Deployment on the Little Giant

The JBLM deployment to the Little Giant Fire represents one of the most significant military contributions to Pacific Northwest firefighting in recent years. Military personnel support firefighting operations in a variety of roles, including constructing hand line, cutting brush, mop-up operations, and logistical support. They operate under the direction of qualified wildland fire managers and incident commanders.

The Little Giant Fire, which has burned more than 170,000 acres in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, required two Incident Management Teams — California Team 5 initially, with Northwest Team 12 mobilizing to take over command as of September 3. The transition reflects ongoing operational complexity even as containment improves.

Northwest Resource Picture

The Northwest Interagency Coordination Center (NWCC) in Portland is operating at Preparedness Level 4, one step below the national maximum of PL5. At PL4, nearly all available Northwest resources are committed to active incidents, requiring the region to import firefighting resources from other geographic areas of the country.

Nationally, more than 19,000 firefighters and support personnel are currently assigned to wildfire incidents, representing a massive mobilization of Type 1 and Type 2 Incident Management Teams, Hotshot crews, smokejumpers, helicopters, large air tankers, single-engine air tankers, and retardant planes across the country.

Aerial Resources in the PNW

Aviation resources have played a critical role in the 2026 season across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Aerial support including helicopters and air tankers have been utilized extensively on multiple large fires, including the Sinlahekin, Little Giant, Rowe Creek Complex, and Spokane Complex fires. However, smoke, terrain, and wind conditions have frequently limited aerial operations, particularly during peak fire weather periods.

What Firefighting Resources Are Doing

Across the Pacific Northwest's active fires, resource priorities include:

  • Structure protection: Engine crews defending threatened homes and outbuildings
  • Containment line construction: Hand crews and dozer operators cutting fire lines
  • Burnout operations: Tactical use of prescribed fire to consume fuels ahead of the main fire
  • Mop-up: Extinguishing interior hot spots to prevent reignition
  • Air operations: Helicopters delivering water and retardant; air tankers making strategic drops

Resource availability remains a critical constraint as multiple large fires compete for the same limited pool of national firefighting assets. The NWCC continues to coordinate resource ordering and logistics to support all active incidents in Oregon and Washington.