The United States entered a critical phase of the 2026 wildland fire season this week, with federal firefighting agencies reporting 39 large active fires burning across 13 states as of July 10. The fires have collectively scorched more than 548,800 acres, with the Pacific Northwest emerging as one of the most active geographic areas alongside the Southern Region.

Record-Pace Season

According to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), 38,541 fires have burned more than 3.4 million acres across the United States so far in 2026 — a significant increase over the same period in 2025, when 37,157 fires had consumed 2.37 million acres. The 2026 pace represents a roughly 45 percent increase in total acreage burned compared to the 2025 year-to-date figure.

Eight new large fires were reported on July 10 alone, with new incidents flagged in the Northwest and Southern geographic areas.

Active Fire Breakdown by State

The Pacific Northwest is carrying a disproportionate share of the national fire load. As of July 10, NIFC reports the following large fire counts:

  • Washington: 5 large fires
  • Oregon: 4 large fires
  • Idaho: 2 large fires
  • Alaska: 7 large fires
  • Utah: 4 large fires
  • Colorado: 4 large fires
  • Nevada: 3 large fires
  • California, Texas, New Mexico, North Carolina, Arizona, Florida: 1–2 large fires each

National Preparedness at Level 4

The National Preparedness Level — which reflects how heavily national firefighting resources are committed — was elevated to Level 4 out of 5 in late June and remains there as of this reporting. At Level 4, resources are heavily committed across multiple geographic areas, and ordering lead times for additional equipment and crews grow significantly.

As of July 10, 12,971 firefighters and support personnel are engaged nationwide, supported by 252 crews, 807 engines, and 126 helicopters. The scale of the deployment rivals some of the busiest periods of recent fire seasons.

Military Assets Activated

In a sign of mounting pressure on national resources, 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 — one to San Bernardino, CA, and one to Santa Maria, CA — to support wildland fire operations across the country. MAFFS aircraft are typically activated when commercial air tanker resources are insufficient to meet demand.

Western Drought as Root Cause

Fire officials point to an exceptionally dry winter and ongoing multi-state drought as the primary driver of early and intense fire activity. Roughly 48 percent of the contiguous United States remains in drought conditions, with particularly critical fuel moisture deficits across the Great Basin, Rockies, and Pacific Northwest. Oregon alone has 19 of its 36 counties under drought emergency status following a statewide declaration in mid-June.

With peak fire season still weeks away for much of the Pacific Northwest, conditions are being closely watched by interagency coordination centers from Boise to Portland.