Fire agencies across the Pacific Northwest are moving into full operational posture as the 2026 fire season begins in earnest, with hotshot crews, aerial resources, and interagency coordination centers completing pre-season readiness activities and beginning to staff up for the months ahead.

Hotshot Crews in Region 6

Interagency Hotshot Crews based in USFS Region 6, which covers Oregon and Washington, have completed their annual pre-season training cycles required under the Standards for Interagency Hotshot Crew Operations (SIHCO). Region 6 crews are held to an additional expectation of two weeks of team training prior to initial assignment — training that covers fire behavior, radio communications, crew operations, chainsaw operation, first aid, defensive driving, and UTV operation.

The Prineville Interagency Hotshots, based at the Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland in central Oregon, are among the region's elite Type 1 hand crews. These 20-person crews are trained to work independently in the most difficult fire conditions and are frequently deployed to fires across the western United States.

Northwest Interagency Coordination Center

The Northwest Interagency Coordination Center (NWCC), which serves as the regional hub for coordinating wildland fire resources across Oregon and Washington, is providing morning briefings to track fire activity and resource allocation across the region. The Washington Department of Natural Resources fire dashboard is also active, providing real-time information on fires affecting Washington state.

Resource ordering for fires is handled through the Interagency Resource Ordering Capability (IROC) system, which allows dispatch centers to track and mobilize crews, engines, aircraft, and overhead personnel across geographic boundaries as fire activity increases.

Aerial Fleet Readiness

Single engine air tankers (SEATs), large air tankers, and helicopters stationed across the Northwest are completing annual inspections and contract mobilizations. Aerial resources play a critical role in initial attack, particularly during the early fire season when ground-based resources may not yet be at full strength.

National air tanker availability has been a recurring concern in recent years, and NIFC's push for multi-year aviation contracts in the FY2027 budget proposal is aimed at providing more certainty for aircraft operators and fire managers alike.

State and Local Readiness

The Oregon Department of Forestry and Washington DNR have both ramped up staffing and equipment readiness for the upcoming season. Both agencies work collaboratively with federal partners through the interagency coordination system, sharing resources and information to maximize efficiency during multi-jurisdictional incidents.

County emergency management offices across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho are also reviewing evacuation plans, updating emergency notification systems, and coordinating with fire agencies to ensure community readiness ahead of the peak fire season months.

How to Report a Fire

  • Call 911 for any active fire emergency
  • Oregon: Report fires to 1-800-452-7888
  • Washington: Report fires through 911 or Washington DNR's reporting line
  • Idaho: Contact your local county sheriff or call 911

Track resource assignments and incident information at inciweb.wildfire.gov and the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center at gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc.