The United States is enduring one of its most severe wildfire seasons on record, with the Pacific Northwest at ground zero. As of August 14, 2026, the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) reports 93 uncontained large fires burning across the country, with 29,612 firefighting personnel deployed to active incidents nationwide.

Oregon leads the nation with 25 large fires, followed by Washington with 19. Together, the two states account for nearly half of all active large fires in the country. Idaho adds another 7 fires to the Northwest’s grim total. Active fires across all states are currently consuming approximately 3.96 million acres.

Record-Breaking Year

The scale of the 2026 fire season is alarming even by recent standards. Year-to-date statistics show firefighters have responded to 48,469 wildfires that have burned more than 6.5 million acres across the United States through August 14 — far outpacing the 10-year average of 37,384 fires and 4.2 million acres for the same period.

By comparison, the same period in 2025 saw 43,654 fires burning 3.69 million acres. The 2026 pace represents a 77 percent increase in acreage over last year.

National Preparedness Level 5

The nation has been operating at National Preparedness Level 5 (PL5) — the highest level — since late July, a designation that signals federal resources are at maximum commitment and must be triaged to the most critical incidents. At PL5, agencies including the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management prioritize resource allocation across competing fires nationwide.

The Northwest is itself at its own regional Preparedness Level 5, with fire behavior described by forecasters as extreme on multiple fronts. Dry lightning storms, record heat, and critically low relative humidity have conspired to push fuels beyond their limits across the region.

Key Active Fires in the PNW

  • Big Grass Fire (Oregon): 582,226 acres — Oregon’s largest fire in modern history, burning in Malheur County
  • Little Giant Fire (Washington): ~129,000 acres, only 5–7% contained, burning in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
  • Sinlahekin Fire (Washington): ~152,000 acres, 42% contained, near Tonasket in Okanogan County
  • Kaiser Canyon Fire (Washington): ~138,000 acres, burning in Okanogan County
  • Rowe Creek Complex (Oregon): 373,783 acres
  • 2026 Coleman Creek (Oregon): 308,721 acres
  • Wrights Spring Fire (Oregon): 53,061 acres, Klamath County
  • Hagen Fire (Oregon): 54,995 acres, Umatilla County

Drone Incursions Hampering Response

A troubling pattern has emerged alongside the fire activity: NIFC reports 50 drone incursions near active wildfires in 2026 as of August 11, with 24 of those incidents occurring in Washington state. Each incursion forces aerial suppression operations to halt until the airspace is clear, costing precious time during critical fire runs. Flying drones near active wildfires is illegal and can carry substantial fines.

Residents near any active fire are urged to keep drones grounded entirely. Visit KnowBeforeYouFly.org for guidance on no-fly restrictions.

Officials urge all residents in fire-prone areas to stay informed through local emergency management agencies, InciWeb (inciweb.wildfire.gov), and NW FireWatch for the latest incident updates.