The 2026 wildfire season is tracking significantly above average as the country enters the traditional heart of fire season. As of Sunday, July 5, the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) reported 41 large fires burning across 14 states, covering more than 523,000 acres in active fire perimeters. Year-to-date, 36,871 fires have burned an estimated 3.3 million acres — compared to just over 2.1 million acres at the same point in 2025 and roughly 2.8 million in 2024.

Fires Burning Across the West

Alaska leads the nation in fire count with 12 large incidents, though most remain in remote areas. Utah has five large fires, including the 94,768-acre Cottonwood Fire near Beaver, the 87,554-acre Babylon Fire south of Monticello, and the 34,252-acre Cherry Fire. Colorado is also heavily engaged, with the 86,983-acre Aspen Acres Fire northwest of Rye and the 41,337-acre Ferris Fire in San Juan National Forest among five active large fires.

The Pacific Northwest — Oregon, Washington, and Idaho — added multiple new incidents over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, with firefighters stretched thin as temperatures remained above normal and humidity dropped into the single digits in some areas.

July 4th Weekend Ignitions

NIFC reported 124 new fires in a single day on July 5, including six new large incidents. Six of the current 41 large fires were designated new emergency responses, reflecting the rapid pace of fire growth. Evacuations are in place across three geographic areas nationally.

  • Oregon: 2 large fires (North Cayuse, Antelope Creek)
  • Washington: 2 large fires (Chelan Hills, Crawford Oaks)
  • Idaho: 1 large fire (Shingle Creek near Riggins)
  • Montana: 2 large fires (Deer Hollow, Lost Cabin)
  • New Mexico: 4 large fires including the 8,638-acre Sacaton Fire in the Gila Wilderness
  • Arizona: 1 large fire (Pocket Fire, 25,597 acres, 7 miles north of Sedona)

Season in Context

The 2026 season has been marked by early-season drought conditions across the West and above-normal temperatures. In January, 69% of the United States was under drought conditions. While California saw significant drought relief earlier in the year, the Pacific Northwest has experienced faster-than-expected vegetation curing — particularly in coastal Oregon forests — setting the stage for an aggressive early July fire start.

NIFC's predictive services have raised west-central Oregon to above-normal fire risk for July following faster-than-expected fuel drying. Northwest Washington remains at elevated risk as well, as June precipitation was insufficient to offset deep, long-term drought.

What to Watch

Forecasters warn that temperatures across the West will remain above normal through the coming week, with minimum relative humidity values of 4 to 20 percent — the lowest values concentrated in the central and eastern Great Basin and the central Rockies. Isolated dry thunderstorms are possible over northeast California, southeast Oregon, and northwest Nevada, which could produce additional ignitions with little to no precipitation.

Residents across the Pacific Northwest are urged to check fire.airnow.gov for current smoke and air quality conditions and to follow evacuation orders and warnings from local emergency managers.