Federal and state wildland fire agencies are in the early stages of what could be a demanding summer mobilization, with 2,559 personnel already committed to active incidents across the country and national fire management infrastructure gearing up for an above-normal season across the West.

National Preparedness Level

The National Interagency Fire Center currently maintains a national preparedness level of 2 on a scale of 1 to 5. While that level reflects current commitment rather than worst-case conditions, it is expected to rise as the summer fire season intensifies across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and the broader western United States.

The preparedness level system determines how federal resources are allocated and shared across geographic areas. At level 2, most resources remain available within their home regions. As levels rise to 3, 4, and 5, national mobilization begins — triggering the interstate sharing of hand crews, air tankers, helicopters, engines, and logistics support.

What's Currently Deployed

As of June 12, significant federal resources are committed to the South Fork Fire in Nebraska, where a complex incident management team — the highest level of federal fire management — has been assigned to oversee suppression efforts on a fire that has grown to 23,112 acres with only 7% containment. Additional Type 1 and Type 2 crews are staged in the Southwest and California where multiple fires are burning.

Northwest Resource Posture

In the Pacific Northwest, agencies are in pre-positioning mode:

  • Oregon Department of Forestry has entered fire season and has additional engines and crews at strategic locations across the state
  • Washington DNR has activated seasonal firefighting contracts and is monitoring conditions closely following a dry winter and spring
  • BLM Oregon/Washington has increased aerial detection patrol hours across eastern Oregon and southeast Washington
  • U.S. Forest Service Northwest Region is coordinating with the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center (NWCC) in Portland on resource availability and mutual aid preparedness
  • Idaho Department of Lands has entered fire season in most jurisdictions and has resources staged in the Boise and Coeur d'Alene areas

Air Resources Ready

Aerial firefighting resources — including single-engine air tankers (SEATs), multi-engine air tankers (MEATs), and fire helicopters — are a critical part of early-season response. In the Northwest, the Tanker Base at Redmond, Oregon, and the Airtanker Base at Boise are key logistics hubs. Both are staffed and operational for the 2026 season.

The Forest Service's Large Airtanker fleet — including BAe-146 and DC-10 platforms — and the Next Generation Air Tanker (NGAT) program are on contract and available for mobilization as large fires develop nationally.

Looking Ahead

Fire managers are watching the extended weather pattern closely. The current heat ridge building over the Pacific Northwest, combined with dry fuels and below-normal humidity recovery at night, creates conditions where any new ignition could grow rapidly before aerial resources can be effectively deployed. The message from fire management leadership: resources are ready, but the best defense remains prevention — no new human-caused ignitions.