The United States has already seen more than 1.9 million acres burned in 2026, with 26,568 fires recorded nationwide as of mid-May, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). The national preparedness level stands at 2, with 16 large fires uncontained and nearly 2,000 personnel actively assigned to incidents across the country.

Active Fires Burning Across Multiple Regions

Fire activity is spread across several regions of the country. In the Southwest, the Seven Cabins Fire on the Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico has been exhibiting wind-driven runs and significant spotting, challenging crews working to establish containment lines. In Texas, the Hunggate Fire prompted evacuations and road closures as firefighters battled active fire behavior in dry grassland fuels.

In the Great Basin, the Wild Horse Fire in Utah continues to grow through expansive grass and brush fuels, while firefighters in Wyoming are responding to the Spread Creek Fire near Jackson. Across the Southern Area — Florida and Georgia — crews are making incremental progress on ongoing fires following recent precipitation that has helped moderate conditions.

National Weather Service Fire Weather Concerns

Elevated fire weather conditions are affecting multiple regions simultaneously. Breezy west winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph are forecast across Montana, Wyoming, and into the Upper Great Lakes. Minimum relative humidity values are expected to drop to 10 to 25 percent in those areas, with the lowest readings — 5 to 15 percent — developing from eastern New Mexico into the Texas Panhandle. These conditions create elevated to critical fire weather environments.

NIFC meteorologists noted that fire weather patterns in the West are increasingly driven by ridging high-pressure systems that produce hot, dry, and windy conditions capable of overwhelming suppression resources in a matter of hours.

Pacific Northwest Fires Emerging Early

New large fires have been confirmed in Oregon in recent weeks. A prescribed burn that escaped containment lines near Bend — the Pine Mountain Fire — was fully contained after mobilizing multiple agency resources. The incident underscored the dangerous conditions already present in Central Oregon and the importance of conservative burn planning as summer approaches.

Wildfire Awareness Month

May is National Wildfire Awareness Month, and NIFC is using the occasion to emphasize prevention. The agency notes that the majority of wildfires in the United States are human-caused and preventable. Key prevention reminders include:

  • Avoid parking vehicles on dry grass — catalytic converters can ignite vegetation
  • Check trailer chains to prevent sparks on pavement
  • Inspect and clean equipment before use in fire-prone areas
  • Never leave campfires unattended and ensure they are completely extinguished
  • Obey all posted fire restrictions on public and private lands

With fire activity well above the 10-year average at this point in the calendar year, officials are urging the public to treat every outdoor activity as a potential ignition risk until conditions improve significantly.