Resources & Equipment

Nearly 13,000 firefighters are deployed nationally as of September 11. Idaho leads the Northwest with 7 large active fires, including the Cascade Fire (7,475 acres, 50% contained) on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests. Resources are being repositioned as NPL drops to 3.

The National Preparedness Level has remained at its maximum — Level 5 — throughout August and into September 2026, meaning virtually every available wildland fire resource in the country is committed or staged. Here's what that means on the ground.

As the 2026 fire season begins winding down on its largest incidents, federal agencies are shifting firefighting personnel toward prescribed burns and mechanical fuels treatment — the proactive landscape management that experts say is critical to reducing future wildfire risk.

Australia and New Zealand have deployed two incident management teams and 212 fireline personnel to support Northwest fires as the 2026 season stretches domestic capacity. Nearly 13,000 firefighters are currently assigned nationwide, with the national preparedness level at 3.

Australia and New Zealand's record 240-plus firefighter contingent continues supporting Northwest and Great Basin operations, with two incident management teams and 212 fireline personnel still actively assigned.

Over 14,400 firefighters and support personnel are currently assigned to wildfire incidents across the U.S., with the Pacific Northwest hosting 37 of the nation's 59 active large fires. NICC's drop to Preparedness Level 3 on September 9 signals modest improvement in the national resource picture.

NIFC declared National Preparedness Level 4 on September 4, with more than 15,000 firefighters deployed across the country. Aviation surges, crew shortfalls, and intense competition for resources have defined the 2026 season's operational landscape.

The National Interagency Coordination Center is operating at Preparedness Level 5 with 15,855 firefighters deployed to 66 large fires nationwide. Two military MAFFS C-130 airtankers from the California Air National Guard have been called up to supplement civilian air attack capacity.

The National Interagency Fire Center is operating at Preparedness Level 4 with more than 16,500 firefighters and support personnel assigned to 75 large fires burning across nine geographic areas — a massive mobilization that includes military C-130 airtankers deployed to support operations.

Military MAFFS aircraft, hotshot crews, and structure protection engines have all been pushed to capacity during the 2026 fire season. Here is a look at the massive resource deployment across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

National Guard and Reserve C-130 Hercules aircraft have dropped hundreds of thousands of gallons of retardant across the West during the 2026 fire surge. With 18,401 personnel currently deployed and 48 days at max national readiness now behind them, resource managers are eyeing a brief window of relief.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord military personnel are deployed to Washington's Little Giant Fire as the Pacific Northwest operates at Preparedness Level 4. More than 19,000 firefighters are nationally deployed to 78 large fires as resources remain stretched.

More than 20,245 firefighters and support personnel are assigned to wildfire incidents across the United States as the fire season hits a historical peak. In Washington, international crews from New Zealand and Australia and hundreds of National Guard soldiers are working alongside federal firefighters on the region's most complex incidents.

NIFC reports 74 drone incursions near wildfires in 2026, with 45 in Washington State alone. Each incident can ground aerial firefighting operations, costing critical response time when every minute matters.

Australia and New Zealand have deployed a record 240-plus wildland firefighters to the U.S., with most sent to the Pacific Northwest, as the nation reaches National Preparedness Level 5 with over 21,000 personnel assigned to active fires.

With 22,434 firefighters deployed nationwide and 14 large fires each in both Idaho and Washington, the 2026 season is testing resource limits. The Northwest dropped from Preparedness Level 5 to PL4 on August 31 — its first reduction after 44 straight days at maximum operational intensity.

Over 22,000 firefighting personnel are deployed nationally, with the Washington National Guard activated and crews flowing in from as far as Southern California to combat the Northwest's worst fire season in years.

With 21,371 wildland firefighters and support personnel assigned to 92 large fires across the country, the nation's firefighting resources are deeply committed. California and other states have deployed engines and crews to support overwhelmed Pacific Northwest agencies.

With National Preparedness Level 5 declared, over 22,000 firefighters are battling 79 uncontained large fires nationwide as the 2026 season reaches 7.9+ million acres burned — 163% of the 10-year average. Idaho alone has 44 active fires across 20 counties.

73 drone incursions near wildfires have been reported nationally in 2026, with 45 occurring in Washington State. At the Spokane Complex, 39 unauthorized flights in 48 hours grounded firefighting aircraft. The FBI has deployed counter-UAS technology to track and prosecute violators.