The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) reported on August 4, 2026, that the United States remains at National Preparedness Level 5 — the highest possible level — with 99 large, uncontained fires burning across 14 states. More than 27,400 personnel are currently assigned to wildfire incidents nationwide, and the fire season has already consumed over 5.25 million acres, far exceeding the 10-year average of 3.81 million acres for the same period.

Northwest Remains the Nation's Hotspot

The Pacific Northwest continues to shoulder the heaviest fire burden in the country. Oregon alone accounts for 33 of the 99 active large fires, while Washington reports 16 and Idaho 7. Taken together, the Northwest is home to more than half of all active large fire incidents nationally. NIFC reports that 50 uncontained large fires are burning across Washington and Oregon combined, threatening homes, communities, and critical infrastructure.

Other states reporting large fires include Montana (9), Minnesota (6), California (6), Nevada (6), Colorado (5), Florida (3), Utah (3), Wyoming (1), Oklahoma (1), South Carolina (1), and Texas (1). Total active fire acreage nationwide stands at approximately 3.27 million acres.

Year-to-Date Numbers Paint a Stark Picture

Between January 1 and August 4, 2026, federal fire agencies recorded 45,050 fires burning 5,253,328 acres — a 53 percent increase in acreage over the same period in 2025, when 41,948 fires burned 3,434,260 acres. The 2026 season is already shaping up to be one of the most destructive on record.

New Fires Continue to Ignite

Four new large fires were reported on August 3 alone: the Griffin Fire in Montana, the Gann Fire in California, the Bear Hallow Fire in Texas, and the South Connell Fire in Washington state. The continued ignition of new large fires underscores the extreme fire weather gripping much of the West, with minimum relative humidity values as low as 3 to 15 percent across California, the Inland Northwest, and the Great Basin.

What This Means for the Region

At Preparedness Level 5, essentially all national firefighting resources are committed. Incident commanders are prioritizing the most threatened communities, and resource ordering queues are lengthy. Residents across the Pacific Northwest should monitor local emergency management alerts, follow any evacuation orders immediately, and avoid activities that could spark additional fires during this critical period.

  • Total active large fires nationwide: 99
  • Total personnel assigned: 27,400+
  • 2026 year-to-date acres burned: 5,253,328
  • National Preparedness Level: 5 (maximum)
  • Northwest large fires: 56 (OR: 33, WA: 16, ID: 7)

NIFC updates fire statistics daily at nifc.gov. Residents seeking information on specific incidents can visit InciWeb at inciweb.wildfire.gov.