The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) lowered the national fire preparedness level to PL 2 on September 22, 2026, reflecting a significant decrease in initial attack activity and large fire complexity across the country. The move—down from PL 3 the previous day and from the season high of PL 5 reached during the peak of summer—signals a cautious shift toward the close of what has been one of the most destructive wildfire seasons in U.S. history.

What PL 2 Means

The national preparedness level is a 1–5 scale used by NIFC to gauge strain on national fire suppression resources. At PL 2, resource availability is adequate to manage the current situation, with light ordering through the National Interagency Coordination Center to support ongoing incidents. Complex incident management teams and specialty resources can still be mobilized, but the frantic scramble for crews and aircraft that defined July and August has subsided.

Fires Still Burning

Despite the relative de-escalation, significant work remains. As of September 22, NIFC reported:

  • 31 uncontained large fires burning across 13 states
  • 9,701 firefighters and support personnel assigned to active incidents
  • Approximately 1.92 million acres in active fire perimeters nationwide
  • Washington State leading with 7 large uncontained fires; Oregon with 6; California with 5

The Pacific Northwest continues to carry the heaviest active fire load of any region, with 14 uncontained large fires and roughly 5,050 personnel assigned across the Northwest geographic area as of a September 20 situation report. Five complex incident management teams remain committed to Pacific Northwest incidents.

A Season of Records

The 2026 season has been punishing by any measure. Year-to-date through September 22, the U.S. has recorded 56,794 fires burning 8,554,955 acres—well above the 10-year average of approximately 5.8 million acres for the same period. The Pacific Northwest bore an outsized share of that destruction, anchored by the Big Grass Fire in southeastern Oregon, which became the largest wildfire in Oregon history at over 578,000 acres.

What Comes Next

Late September historically brings cooler temperatures, higher humidities, and increasing precipitation to the Pacific Northwest—conditions that favor fire crews on the ground. However, fire weather forecasters are watching Cascade gap winds that can push gusts to 35 mph through mountain passes, keeping relative humidity in critical ranges and maintaining spotting potential even as crews work to complete mop-up on large incidents.

Resource managers are using the pause in intensity to release crews and equipment efficiently while maintaining suppression work on incidents not yet fully contained. Officials caution that the season is not over: Stage 1 fire restrictions remain in effect across many federal land units in central Oregon, and several Washington fires remain at low containment percentages with structures and infrastructure still at risk.