The National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) declared National Preparedness Level 4 (PL 4) effective June 29, 2026, signaling that wildfire resources across the country are under heavy demand and that federal coordination of personnel and equipment has reached a near-maximum operational tempo.

What PL 4 Means

The National Preparedness Level system runs from 1 to 5, with 5 indicating the most severe resource mobilization scenario. At PL 4, the NICC is actively coordinating with geographic area coordination centers to prioritize and fill resource orders for all national assets. Geographic areas with lower fire activity — including portions of the Pacific Northwest this week — are being asked to make their available resources accessible for national assignment.

Historically, the national preparedness level averages Level 2 during June and Level 3 during July. Reaching PL 4 before July 1 is a significant departure from the norm and a strong signal that 2026 is shaping up to be one of the more challenging fire seasons in recent memory.

By the Numbers

As of June 29, the NICC reported:

  • 52 large fires burning across 9 states
  • 465,189 acres currently active
  • 9 new large fires reported on June 29 alone
  • Year-to-date: 35,682 fires burning 3,071,850 acres

For comparison, at the same point in 2025, approximately 1.79 million acres had burned year-to-date — meaning 2026 is running at roughly 72% above last year's pace. The fires are concentrated in Alaska (12 large fires), Utah (3), New Mexico (3), Arizona (3), Nevada (2), Idaho (1), Wyoming (1), North Carolina (1), and Florida (1).

Resource Strain

With multiple incident management teams deployed simultaneously and a heavy draw on hotshot crews, engines, and airtankers, resource ordering timelines are stretching. Fire managers at the local level are being asked to exhaust local and regional resources before requesting national support — a standard protocol at PL 4.

The Pacific Northwest, which is experiencing a brief window of cooler and wetter conditions this week, is in a position to share resources southward. However, forecasters warn that the northern Rockies and PNW typically enter their peak fire risk window in July and August, and locally-held resources will be needed close to home in the coming weeks.

Aviation Assets

Large airtankers (LATs), single-engine air tankers (SEATs), and heavy helicopters are in high demand across the Southwest and Intermountain West. The NICC is working to ensure aviation resources are positioned effectively given the breadth of active incidents. Pacific Northwest aviation bases remain staffed and ready.

Follow national fire resource status at nifc.gov.