The National Interagency Fire Center reported this week that 25,560 fires have burned more than 1.88 million acres across the United States so far in 2026 — well above the 10-year average of approximately 1.05 million acres burned through the same date. The country remains at National Preparedness Level 2 (on a scale of 1 to 5), reflecting elevated but not yet peak fire activity.

Current Active Fires

As of May 13, there are 12 uncontained large fires burning in six states. The most active regions include:

  • Florida — Seven large fires are burning across the state, led by the Max Road 06 fire at approximately 11,090 acres near Florida City and the South Canal Fire at 2,200 acres, which has shown active wind-driven fire behavior and long-range spotting.
  • New Mexico — The Hummingbird Fire on the Gila National Forest has burned 5,650 acres. Recent precipitation has moderated behavior in some areas, though the fire remains active.
  • Montana — The East Side Fire on the Custer Gallatin National Forest has burned 1,219 acres south of Red Lodge along Highway 212 and is 70% contained.
  • Arizona — The Hazen Fire near Buckeye has burned 1,191 acres and is 87% contained.
  • Oregon — The Pine Mountain Fire on the Deschutes National Forest, which burned 2,589 acres west of Brothers, has reached 100% containment.

Oregon and Southern California See New Ignitions

NIFC’s May 8 update noted new large fires in both Oregon and Southern California, where dry fuels and gusty winds continued to create challenging conditions for firefighters. Fire managers in the Pacific Northwest have flagged the combination of record-low snowpack, expanding drought, and building heat as factors likely to drive increasing fire activity through the coming months.

Awareness Month Messaging

May is Wildfire Awareness Month nationally. NIFC officials emphasized that nearly 85% of all U.S. wildfires are human-caused and preventable. Key prevention actions highlighted by fire managers include:

  • Checking trailer chains before towing to prevent sparks on roadways
  • Following all posted fire restrictions on public lands
  • Fully extinguishing campfires before leaving — pour water, stir, and pour again
  • Avoiding outdoor burning during windy or dry conditions

Firefighters and support personnel continue working across agency lines to keep initial attack fires small. The multi-agency National Multi-Agency Coordination Group meets daily during elevated fire activity to manage resource allocation nationally.

Year-to-Date Context

The 2026 fire year has been significantly more active than recent years by acreage. Through May 11, 2026 has seen approximately 84% more acres burned than the same period in 2025, which burned just over 1 million acres. The elevated early-season numbers are partly driven by continued Southern Area fire activity, which has been intense since January.