The United States is experiencing a rapidly escalating wildfire season, with the National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) maintaining a National Preparedness Level 3 as of June 26, 2026. As of Thursday morning, 37 large fires were burning across the country, with six new large fires ignited in the previous 24 hours. More than 6,700 personnel are actively assigned to incidents nationwide, including four Complex Incident Management Teams.

Season Statistics Surpass Historical Averages

The 2026 fire season is tracking well above historical norms. From January 1 through June 25, a total of 35,118 fires have burned more than 2.9 million acres nationwide — exceeding 10-year averages for both fire count and acreage burned. By comparison, the same period in 2025 saw 33,411 fires burn 1.7 million acres, and 2024 saw 20,457 fires burn 2.2 million acres.

The largest fire currently burning in the United States is the Cottonwood Fire near Beaver, Utah, at 61,137 acres. An assigned Complex Incident Management Team is reporting extreme fire behavior, and evacuation orders remain in effect for surrounding communities.

Fire Activity Across the West

Active large fires are currently reported in twelve states, including three in Washington, one in Oregon, and one in Idaho. Other states reporting multiple large fires include Alaska (7), Florida (7), Arizona (5), and Utah (5). Combined acreage from all active large fires stands at approximately 244,335 acres.

What Preparedness Level 3 Means

A National Preparedness Level 3 indicates that wildfire activity is substantial enough to require cross-regional mobilization of firefighting resources. At this level, coordination between geographic area coordination centers intensifies, and the NICC begins facilitating the movement of resources — including crews, aircraft, and equipment — between regions to meet demand.

  • Level 1–2: Localized activity, resources adequate within region
  • Level 3: Multi-region resource sharing required
  • Level 4–5: Near-maximum or maximum national resource commitment

Weather Outlook Adding to Concerns

National Weather Service forecasters warn that drier air will return to the Interior Northwest late Friday through the weekend, with elevated fire weather conditions expected — including relative humidity below 15 percent and gusty west-to-southwest winds through Cascade gaps. Lightning-ignited fire starts remain possible across portions of the northern Rockies, adding to suppression demand heading into the weekend.

The NIFC encourages residents in fire-prone areas to review evacuation plans, clear defensible space around structures, and monitor local emergency management channels for updates. More information is available at nifc.gov.