Resources & Equipment

With nearly 30,000 personnel deployed nationwide and the Pacific Northwest drawing the bulk of national resources, the 2026 fire season is pushing the national preparedness level to its limits. Resource competition between regions is complicating response to new fires.

With the national firefighting system at Preparedness Level 5 and 29,548 personnel committed nationwide, the Pacific Northwest has drawn on military troops from Joint Base Lewis-McChord and international aviation resources from Canada as agencies exhaust conventional options.

With domestic firefighting capacity maxed out, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada have deployed crews and airtankers to the Pacific Northwest. Three international IMTs, 196 fireline personnel, military MAFFS C-130s, and National Guard troops are all in the fight.

With 29,612 personnel deployed to wildfire incidents nationwide and federal resources at maximum commitment under Preparedness Level 5, the logistics of fighting 2026’s fires represent one of the largest mobilizations in U.S. wildfire history.

The National Interagency Fire Center has maintained the country at National Preparedness Level 5 — the highest level — since July 18, as 29,058 firefighters and support personnel are committed to 95 large uncontained fires across 15 states.

200 Army soldiers from JBLM and two Air Force Reserve MAFFS C-130 airtankers have been deployed to Pacific Northwest wildfires as the 2026 season pushes national resources to their limits. Crews from Australia and New Zealand are also assisting. With 30,000+ personnel deployed nationally and NPL at maximum 5, 2026 is one of the busiest fire years on record.

240 soldiers from JBLM's 7th Infantry Division are deployed to Washington's Modrite Fire, while 250 additional fire management specialists from Australia and New Zealand arrive this week to support the Pacific Northwest fire siege.

The U.S. is at National Preparedness Level 5 — its highest — with 30,419 personnel, 645 crews, and 226 helicopters fighting 94 large fires nationwide as the Pacific Northwest faces peak fire season pressure.

The U.S. remains at National Preparedness Level 5 — the highest possible — with 94 uncontained large fires, over 30,000 firefighters deployed, and 5.15 million acres burned year-to-date. The Pacific Northwest is one of the most resource-intensive fire areas in the country.

The nation has been at its highest wildfire preparedness level since July 20, with over 30,600 personnel, 1,856 engines, 204 helicopters, and 26 incident management teams fully committed across the West.

National Preparedness Level 5 has been in effect since July 18, with 30,132 personnel deployed nationwide. The Northwest GACC is also at PL5 as Oregon and Washington host nearly half the nation's active large fires.

International firefighters from Australia and New Zealand, four military MAFFS C-130 airtankers, U.S. Army soldiers, and 25 Incident Management Teams are among the resources deployed to fight Pacific Northwest wildfires as national resources hit their limits.

More than 18,000 firefighting personnel are assigned to Northwest incidents alone, with Australian and New Zealand crews, MAFFS C-130 airtankers, and 27 Incident Management Teams committed across the region.

With 27,400+ personnel nationally committed at Preparedness Level 5, international crews from Australia and New Zealand have arrived in the Northwest to help fight fires. Four MAFFS C-130 military airtankers are deployed to Klamath Falls and Redding to bolster aerial firefighting capacity.

With the Pacific Northwest at the epicenter of the 2026 fire season, NIFC has deployed 27 Complex Incident Management Teams, military MAFFS C-130 airtankers, and firefighters from Australia and New Zealand to assist overwhelmed resources across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

Over 27,900 firefighters are deployed nationwide, with more than 15,000 working fires in Oregon and Washington alone. The Washington National Guard, Oregon Army National Guard, active-duty Army troops, and out-of-state crews have all been mobilized as PNW resources reach capacity.

250 active-duty U.S. Army soldiers are mobilizing to fight Northwest wildfires, joined by four Air Force C-130 MAFFS aircraft, as national fire resources reach their limits at Preparedness Level 5.

The U.S. wildfire response system is at maximum capacity with 27,038 personnel, 587 crews, 1,615 engines, and 200 helicopters deployed nationwide. The Northwest, with 20 Complex IMTs assigned, is consuming an outsized share of national firefighting resources as the season continues to escalate.

The Northwest wildfire crisis has triggered deployment of international firefighting teams from Australia and New Zealand, MAFFS military air tankers, and Oregon National Guard assets as the region's 45 uncontained large fires push resources to their limits.

With 48 uncontained large fires and domestic resources stretched to their limits, NIFC has mobilized 74 fire management specialists from Australia and New Zealand, including a full 15-person Incident Management Team assigned to the Castle Fire in southern Oregon.