The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) is maintaining National Preparedness Level 4 (PL 4) — the second-highest level on a five-point scale — as 48 large, uncontained fires burn across 15 states, with more than 16,800 personnel assigned to active incidents nationwide as of July 15, 2026.

By the Numbers

  • Large fires burning: 48
  • New large fires July 15: 4
  • Total acres active: 686,370
  • Personnel deployed: 16,800+
  • Year-to-date fires: 39,520 (vs. 37,894 in 2025)
  • Year-to-date acres burned: 3,633,827 (vs. 2,570,608 in 2025)

States With Active Large Fires

Large fires are currently burning in all 10 Geographic Areas. States with the most active large fires include:

  • Alaska (9 fires)
  • Colorado (6 fires)
  • Minnesota (6 fires)
  • California (5 fires)
  • Oregon (4 fires)
  • Utah (4 fires)
  • Idaho (4 fires)
  • Washington (1 fire)

Pacific Northwest Emerges as National Focal Point

While Minnesota has commanded national attention earlier this fire season — with more than 55,000 acres burning in the Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness — the Pacific Northwest has emerged as an escalating area of national concern. NIFC's July 14 Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory specifically calls out the region, noting that record-low winter snowpack and drought have advanced the fire season by several weeks.

Fire managers in the Northwest report that recent lightning storms have produced efficient ignitions and rapid fire growth — conditions that typically don't materialize until mid-August. This early-season intensity is stretching national resources at a time when multiple other geographic areas are also competing for personnel, aircraft, and equipment.

Wyoming Air National Guard Activated

On July 14, the Wyoming Air National Guard's 153rd Airlift Wing was activated to support wildland firefighting operations in the western United States. The unit is deploying Modular Airborne Firefighting System (MAFFS)-equipped C-130 aircraft, which can drop thousands of gallons of fire retardant per pass. The National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group at NIFC authorized the activation as PL 4 resource demands intensified.

Colorado's Aspen Acres Fire: Largest Active Incident

The Aspen Acres Fire in Custer County, Colorado has emerged as one of the largest active incidents nationally at approximately 99,077 acres and only 36% contained, burning roughly 10 miles northwest of Rye, CO. The Ferris Fire in Colorado's San Juan National Forest has burned 64,869 acres at 43% containment, and the Gold Mountain Fire near Ouray stands at 36,965 acres with just 12% containment.

Resource Demand Concerns

NIFC officials note that simultaneous large fire activity across all geographic areas creates significant competition for interagency resources including Type 1 and Type 2 Incident Management Teams, air tankers, and specialized crews such as Hotshot crews and Smokejumpers. PNW agencies are working within the national coordination framework to ensure the most critical incidents receive needed support, but fire managers have cautioned that response times to new ignitions may be slower than in lower-demand years.