The 2026 wildfire season has reached a critical threshold, with 102 uncontained large fires burning across 15 states as of August 3 and more than 3.2 million acres currently under flame. The Pacific Northwest stands at the center of the crisis, accounting for nearly a third of all active large fire activity in the nation.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), 102 new fires were reported nationwide on August 2 alone, including seven new large fires. More than 29,200 firefighting personnel are currently assigned to incidents across the country — a scale of deployment that reflects how stretched the national suppression system has become.

PNW Leads the Nation in Fire Activity

Oregon leads all states with 33 active large fires, followed by Washington with 16, Montana with 9, and Idaho with 8. Together, these four Northwest states account for 66 of the 102 active large fires in the nation. Minnesota, Nevada, Colorado, California, and Florida round out the states with the most active incidents.

Fire activity in Oregon and Washington is described by federal incident commanders as ranging from active to extreme behavior, with multiple evacuations in effect and dozens of communities under threat. The Spokane, Washington area has been hardest hit by urban-interface fires, while eastern Oregon is grappling with a series of massive rangeland and forested fires stretching from the high desert to the Blue Mountains.

A Season Running Far Above Average

The numbers tell a sobering story. Through August 3, 2026, firefighters have responded to 44,722 fires that have burned a combined 5,154,596 acres — well above the 10-year average of 35,039 fires and 3,759,429 acres for the same period. The 2026 season is running approximately 37% above average in total acres burned year-to-date.

By comparison, the same period in 2025 saw 41,733 fires and 3,396,344 acres. The 2026 season has already surpassed the 2025 pace by more than 1.75 million acres through early August.

Seven New Large Fires on August 2

Among the new large fires reported on August 2 were:

  • Moose Mountain Fire — Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest, Idaho (approximately 4 miles north of Kelly Forks Campground)
  • Sand Creek Fire — Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Montana (7.5 miles southeast of Wisdom)
  • Middle Coulee Fire — Chouteau County, Montana (4 miles north of Carter)
  • I-5 MM 57 NB Fire — Southern Oregon, threatening I-5 corridor infrastructure
  • Antelope Creek Fire — Elko District BLM, Nevada (25 miles north of Dunphy)
  • Left Creek Fire — Wyoming
  • Bluegill Fire — Everglades National Park, Florida (7 miles west of Miami)

NIFC notes that many of these new incidents are threatening structures or infrastructure, with several already prompting evacuations or road closures.

What Comes Next

Forecasters warn that conditions through August will remain conducive to continued extreme fire behavior across the Northwest. The NIFC August outlook — issued August 1 — calls for above-normal significant fire potential across most of the northwestern United States, from central Utah westward to the Pacific Coast. With fuels critically dry and the jet stream pattern favoring persistent heat and low humidity, fire managers are not anticipating meaningful relief in the near term.

Residents throughout the Pacific Northwest are urged to monitor local emergency management alerts, maintain defensible space around their properties, and be prepared to evacuate at a moment's notice.