As September draws to a close, the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) has signaled a significant easing of wildland fire pressure across the country, dropping the National Preparedness Level to 2 on a scale of 1 to 5 — a meaningful step down from the peak Level 5 conditions that defined much of this summer.

As of September 25, firefighters were managing 26 large fires nationwide, with 6,824 personnel assigned to incidents — including 92 crews, 267 engines, and 44 helicopters. While those numbers remain substantial, they represent a fraction of the resources mobilized during the height of the 2026 fire season.

Year-to-Date: A Season for the Record Books

The numbers tell a stark story. Through September 25, 57,087 fires have burned more than 8.5 million acres across the United States — 125% of the 10-year average number of fires and a staggering 145% of average acreage for this date. The 2026 season has joined a short list of the most destructive fire years in American history.

The Pacific Northwest bore an outsized share of that destruction. Oregon shattered its all-time wildfire acreage record, with more than 2.3 million acres burned. Washington committed $207 million to firefighting efforts between July and August alone — nearly two-thirds of what the state budgeted for the entire 2025 season.

What's Still Burning

Five large fires remained on the NIFC active list as of the September 25 report:

  • The Narrows Fire — Mt. Hood National Forest, Clackamas County, Oregon: 305 acres, 98% contained. Located 15 miles southeast of Estacada, this fire has been burning since early August and is in its final stages of containment.
  • Dome Fire — Yosemite National Park, California: 5,081 acres, 30% contained. North of Wawona Dome, this NPS-managed incident remains the largest active fire in the country.
  • Grover Bend Fire — Knox County, Texas: 320 acres, 60% contained. A new ignition 4 miles southeast of Benjamin.
  • Rafter 4B Fire — Texas: Details pending from Texas A&M Forest Service.
  • Stone Bridge Fire — Wilburton area, Oklahoma: 130 acres, 60% contained.

Weather Outlook: Northwest Getting Relief

Weather patterns are turning favorably for fire suppression across the Pacific Northwest. The National Weather Service reports that widespread showers and rainfall are expected near and west of the Cascades in Oregon and Washington, with wetting rain also moving into northern Idaho and western Montana. The Columbia Basin will see breezy west winds, but relative humidity is expected to remain above 30% — a threshold that significantly reduces fire spread potential.

The situation is different farther south. Warm and dry conditions persist in southern California, and portions of the Great Basin continue to see low relative humidity and gusty winds, meaning fire managers there remain on high alert.

NIFC Marks National Preparedness Month

NIFC noted that September is National Preparedness Month, with this year's FEMA theme of "Americans Stand Ready." Coming off a summer in which tens of thousands of Americans were evacuated due to wildfires, agency officials are encouraging all communities to review their readiness plans ahead of the 2027 fire season. Resources are available at ready.gov/stand-ready.

The next NIFC national fire outlook is scheduled for October 1, 2026.