The National Interagency Fire Center elevated the National Preparedness Level to Level 4 out of 5 in late June, and that heightened status remains in effect as of July 11. The designation signals that wildland firefighting resources are heavily committed across multiple geographic areas of the country, with ordering lead times for crews and equipment extending significantly.

Resource Deployment by the Numbers

As of July 10, NIFC reports the following resources actively engaged in nationwide fire operations:

  • 12,971 total firefighters and support personnel
  • 252 hand crews and engine crews
  • 807 fire engines
  • 126 helicopters

These numbers represent one of the largest coordinated deployments seen in early July in recent years, reflecting both the scope of active fires and the pre-positioning of resources in high-risk areas.

MAFFS Military Airtankers Activated

In a significant step, the military's MAFFS (Modular Airborne FireFighting System) aircraft have been activated for the 2026 season. Two C-130 airtankers and support personnel from the 146th Airlift Wing of the California Air National Guard have been deployed — one to San Bernardino, California, and one to Santa Maria, California — to provide national airtanker coverage.

MAFFS units are typically requested only when commercial airtanker resources are insufficient to meet demand. Each MAFFS-equipped C-130 can carry approximately 3,000 gallons of fire retardant and is capable of rapid turnaround for multiple drops. The activation of MAFFS assets indicates the depth of demand on national aerial firefighting resources.

Northwest Coordination Center Activity

The Northwest Interagency Coordination Center (NWCC), based in Portland, is actively coordinating resource movements across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. With eleven large fires burning across the three-state area, the NWCC has been issuing daily situation reports and managing resource requests from incident management teams across the Northwest Geographic Area.

Multiple Type 3 and Type 2 incident management teams are active on Northwest fires, including teams assigned to the Salmon and Anthony fires in eastern Oregon and the Chelan Hills and B&O fires in Washington. As new fires ignite daily, competition for available crews and equipment is intensifying.

Oregon Prepares Additional Resources

Ahead of what officials are calling a potentially very busy fire season, the Oregon Department of Forestry recently hosted a large-scale training exercise in the lower Willamette Valley where hundreds of firefighters trained for worst-case scenarios. The ODF has staged additional engines and personnel at strategic locations around the state, particularly in eastern and southern Oregon where drought conditions are most severe.

Oregon's Emergency Board has also approved holding a healthy financial reserve specifically to respond to what could be a long and costly fire season. The reserve funding is in addition to the state's baseline firefighting appropriation and would be available for emergency use if conditions warrant.

Looking Ahead

With 11 large fires burning across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho — and new fires being reported daily — Northwest interagency coordinators expect resource competition to intensify through July. Landowners, local governments, and the public are encouraged to report new smoke immediately and avoid any activities that could start new ignitions during this critical period.