The United States has remained at National Preparedness Level 5 (PL5) — the highest possible designation — since July 18, 2026, as firefighting resources are fully committed across the country. The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) reports 29,058 personnel currently assigned to wildfire incidents, with 95 large uncontained fires burning across 15 states as of August 13.

National Preparedness Level 5 indicates that fire suppression resources nationwide are fully deployed or committed. It means that the NIFC National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) is actively managing resource scarcity, prioritizing which incidents receive crews, aircraft, and equipment based on life and structure threat.

Resource Strain Across the Northwest

The Pacific Northwest is the most resource-intensive region in the country this fire season. With Oregon, Washington, and Idaho together accounting for 51 of the nation's 95 large fires, the Northwest Coordination Center (NWCC) has been drawing heavily on national mutual aid resources — including crews and equipment from other regions that have been deployed to the Northwest to help manage the surge.

Washington State authorized State Fire Mobilization for the Little Giant Fire — a mechanism that activates the state's full resources and allows for coordinated deployment of local fire departments alongside state and federal crews. This is one of multiple state mobilization actions taken in the region this season.

Air Resources

Air tankers, single-engine air tankers (SEATs), and helicopters have been in near-constant operation across the region. Very large air tankers (VLATs) have been deployed to the biggest fire complexes. Air support has been critical for structure protection and slowing fire spread in terrain that is inaccessible to ground crews.

International Aid

With domestic resources stretched thin, NIFC has activated international mutual aid agreements. Fire crews from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have historically responded under reciprocal aid arrangements during PL5 events. Agency officials have confirmed that international resources are being utilized in the current national response.

By the Numbers

  • Personnel nationwide: 29,058
  • Large uncontained fires: 95 across 15 states
  • New large fires (Aug. 12): 4
  • Acres under active fire: ~3.94 million
  • Fires contained Aug. 12: 5
  • National Preparedness Level: 5 (since July 18)

Fire managers are urging communities to take fire preparedness seriously — not only to protect lives and property, but because every preventable fire diverts limited resources from the fires that are already burning.