Resources & Equipment

The BLM and U.S. Wildland Fire Service launched fall prescribed burn operations across Oregon and Washington on October 1, taking advantage of improving weather and fuel moisture conditions. Burns will continue through fall and winter as air quality and conditions allow.

The Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Wildland Fire Service have announced the launch of fall prescribed burning operations across Oregon and Washington, targeting hazardous fuel accumulations to reduce the risk of future catastrophic wildfires.

With 62,738 fires and over 9 million acres burned year-to-date, 2026 is tracking well above the 10-year average on both measures. Here is how the national and PNW resource picture looks as the season enters its final stretch.

As of October 2, NIFC reports 4,093 firefighters and support personnel assigned to 11 large fires, with 65 crews, 119 engines, and 26 helicopters in service. Senators have raised alarm about resource strain after the federal fire suppression budget was nearly exhausted months ahead of schedule.

Washington’s State Fire Mobilization program supported more than 12 simultaneous major incidents this summer across Okanogan, Chelan, Douglas, and Grant counties — an unprecedented strain on state resources that is now driving calls for expanded firefighting capacity.

The BLM and U.S. Wildland Fire Service launched fall prescribed burn operations across Oregon and Washington on October 1, targeting hazardous fuel buildup to reduce wildfire risk ahead of the 2027 season.

The Modular Airborne Firefighting System reached a sobering milestone in September 2026 — over one million gallons of fire retardant delivered across California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, reflecting the extraordinary aerial resources demanded by this year’s fires.

September is National Preparedness Month, and with the 2026 wildfire season producing historic destruction across the Pacific Northwest, fire agencies and emergency managers say there has never been a more important time to build a household evacuation plan.

As National Preparedness Month draws to a close, the 2026 wildfire season stands as a sobering reminder of the stakes: 57,087 fires, 8.5 million acres, seven weeks at National Preparedness Level 5, and over $6 billion in federal firefighting costs. Officials urge the public to use this moment to strengthen emergency readiness.

The National Interagency Fire Center lowered the national preparedness level to PL 2 on September 22, marking a significant shift from a summer that saw the nation at its maximum preparedness level for seven straight weeks — even as 26 large fires continue to burn nationwide.

Unusually rapid September rains have opened an early prescribed fire window for forests across Oregon and Montana, with the Wallowa-Whitman, Malheur, and Bitterroot National Forests all conducting or planning burns to reduce future fire risk.

NIFC dropped the national preparedness level to PL 2 on September 22, reflecting decreased fire activity after 49 consecutive days at maximum PL 5. Nationwide, 31 large fires remain uncontained with 9,701 personnel assigned, as the 2026 season approaches a record 8.5 million acres burned.

The National Interagency Fire Center lowered the national fire preparedness level to PL 2 on September 22, marking a significant milestone as the 2026 fire season—one of the worst on record—begins to wind down. Nearly 9,700 firefighters remain deployed nationwide.

More than 10,000 firefighting personnel, 161 crews, 435 engines, and 65 helicopters are deployed on wildland fire incidents nationally. At Preparedness Level 3, resource demand remains high across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

The 2026 season pushed the U.S. to Preparedness Level 5 for a near-record 48 consecutive days and nearly exhausted the $6 billion federal fire suppression budget. A new hazard pay rule now covers prescribed burn work.

Australian and New Zealand firefighters are heading home after 30 days in Oregon, but 12,000+ personnel remain on the line nationally across 50 uncontained large fires as NIFC drops the National Preparedness Level to 3.

Over 12,000 wildland firefighting personnel — including 229 crews, 625 engines, and 70 helicopters — remain assigned to active fire incidents across the country, with Washington's DNR crediting the Northwest Compact for helping manage this season's largest fires.

NIFC reports 61 large uncontained fires nationwide and more than 8.5 million acres burned year-to-date — 47 percent above the 10-year average acreage. National Preparedness Level remains at 3 with over 11,500 firefighting personnel deployed.

NIFC lowered the National Preparedness Level to 3 on September 9 after 47 days at the maximum Level 5, but 58 large fires continue burning nationwide as the 2026 season has already scorched 8.4 million acres — 147% of the 10-year average.

NIFC's National Preparedness Level dropped from 5 to 3 as containment improves on major fires, though 13,100 firefighters remain deployed to 57 large fires nationwide. Idaho Panhandle fires (Upper Smith, Silver, Parker Lake) are receiving priority attention at low containment percentages.