Resources & Equipment

With the Northwest at National Preparedness Level 5 and resources fully committed, NIFC has mobilized 74 firefighting specialists from Australia and New Zealand to support Pacific Northwest suppression operations for the next 30 days.

Both the Northwest Geographic Area and the nation as a whole are operating at Preparedness Level 5 — the highest possible designation — as 90 large fires burn across the country. Oregon leads all states with 21 large fires, and resources are stretched thin.

With 88 large fires burning across the U.S. and both the National and Northwest preparedness levels at maximum Level 5, firefighting crews and equipment are stretched to their limits. Over 23,000 personnel are currently deployed nationwide.

The nation is at its highest wildfire preparedness level with 23,151 firefighters fighting 78 large fires nationally, including 37 in the Northwest alone. Year-to-date, U.S. wildfires have burned more than 4 million acres — a 34% increase over 2025.

With Oregon managing more large fires than any other state in the nation, the federal government has deployed military C-130 airtankers to Klamath Falls and Governor Kotek has invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act for the fifth time this year to marshal state and National Guard resources.

NIFC has raised the National Preparedness Level to 5 — the maximum — with 21,263 personnel, 492 crews, 1,159 engines, and 124 helicopters deployed nationally, plus MAFFS C-130 airtankers staged at Klamath Falls, Oregon and two California locations.

Military MAFFS C-130 airtankers from the Air Force Reserve have been deployed to Klamath Falls, Oregon, as the nation reaches National Preparedness Level 5 — the highest on the five-tier scale. More than 20,900 firefighters and support personnel are now deployed nationwide across 72 large fires.

The U.S. military has activated MAFFS-equipped C-130 airtankers from three Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve wings, deploying two to Klamath Falls, Oregon to support the Pacific Northwest fire response. The deployment comes as NIFC elevated the National Preparedness Level to 5 — the maximum — on July 18.

Two MAFFS C-130 airtankers from the Colorado Air National Guard have been deployed to Klamath Falls, Oregon, to support fire suppression in the Pacific Northwest. Nationally, firefighters are battling 78 large fires that have burned nearly 3.9 million acres year-to-date.

Two MAFFS C-130 airtankers from the Colorado Air National Guard are now based at Klamath Falls as the nation hits Preparedness Level 5. Over 17,600 firefighters are deployed nationwide with the Northwest as the most active fire region in the country.

Two MAFFS-equipped National Guard C-130 airtankers from Colorado's 302nd Airlift Wing have been deployed to Klamath Falls, Oregon to support wildfire operations, as the National Preparedness Level rises to 4 of 5 amid a multi-state fire outbreak.

With 17,500+ firefighters committed to incidents nationwide and civilian airtankers fully booked, NIFC has activated military MAFFS C-130 aircraft. The Northwest Coordination Center is competing hard for resources as the East Evans Creek and northeast Oregon fires demand major assignments.

More than 1,200 firefighters are on the East Evans Creek Fire alone, while National Guard aircraft, Army Corps engineers, and IMTs are deployed across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho to manage an unprecedented early-season fire load.

With the nation at Preparedness Level 4 and 46 large fires burning coast to coast, the National Interagency Fire Center has mobilized two military MAFFS C-130 airtankers from the California Air National Guard to bolster the aerial firefighting fleet. Nearly 17,000 personnel are currently assigned to wildfire incidents across the country.

With 46 large fires burning 700,000+ acres nationwide and NPL at 4, more than 16,800 firefighters and 16 IMTs are deployed. MAFFS C-130s activated as aviation resources reach capacity. 2026 is tracking well above the 10-year average.

The NIFC reports 42 large uncontained fires burning nationwide with over 14,400 personnel deployed, while the nation remains at Preparedness Level 4. Oregon leads in PNW fire counts with 5 large fires, followed by Washington and Idaho with 4 each.

The National Preparedness Level sits at 4, with nearly 13,000 firefighters, 807 engines, and 126 helicopters deployed nationwide. Military MAFFS C-130 airtankers from the California Air National Guard have been activated to supplement commercial air resources.

NIFC is at National Preparedness Level 4 as 38 large fires burn 541,000+ acres across 14 states. Oregon, Washington, and Idaho each have multiple large active incidents as the 2026 season already outpaces recent years in total acreage burned.

With the National Preparedness Level elevated to 4, interagency firefighting resources are under significant mobilization pressure. In the Pacific Northwest, Incident Management Teams from the Northwest Coordination Center are engaged on multiple fires simultaneously.

The U.S. is at National Preparedness Level 4 with 35 large fires burning 529,468 acres across 12 states. Year-to-date, 37,209 fires have consumed 3.3 million acres — well above recent averages.