The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) has maintained the nation at National Preparedness Level 2 as fire activity continues to ramp up across multiple geographic areas. More than 5,000 firefighting personnel are currently assigned to wildfire incidents across the country, with one Complex Incident Management Team managing multi-fire coordination in a major operational area.
What Preparedness Level 2 Means
NIFC uses a five-level preparedness scale to communicate national demand for fire management resources. At Level 2, multiple incidents are drawing on national resource pools, and coordination among geographic area coordination centers is increasing. Levels 3 through 5 indicate progressively tighter resource availability and greater competition for crews, aircraft, and equipment across regions.
For the Pacific Northwest, remaining at Preparedness Level 2 rather than escalating toward Level 3 means that additional resources — including crews from other regions and national contract aircraft — should remain accessible as local activity increases. However, fire managers caution that conditions can change quickly: a rapid escalation in fire activity during a heat event could push national preparedness levels higher within days.
Crews and Resources Building for the Season
Fire agencies across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho are in the process of staffing up for the 2026 season. The Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and state fire agencies are activating Type 1 and Type 2 hotshot crews, engine modules, and aerial resources. Airtanker bases at Medford, Redmond, Wenatchee, and other Pacific Northwest locations are positioning retardant capacity ahead of anticipated demand.
Interagency dispatch centers in the Pacific Northwest — including the Northwest Coordination Center in Portland and zone centers across the region — are activating staffing plans to manage the anticipated surge in fire activity as June and July arrive.
Aviation Resources
Large airtankers, single-engine air tankers (SEATs), and Type 1 helicopters represent key initial attack and extended attack tools for the Pacific Northwest's complex terrain. Fire aviation managers are coordinating with the National Interagency Aviation Center (NIAC) to ensure that contract aircraft are positioned regionally ahead of peak demand periods.
The growing use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for reconnaissance, mapping, and infrared flight also continues to expand this season, providing incident commanders with improved situational awareness on active fires.
Volunteer and Cooperator Readiness
Beyond federal and state agencies, rural volunteer fire departments form the critical first line of defense for many communities across the Interior Northwest. Many of these departments are equipped with water tenders and wildland fire apparatus but face ongoing funding and staffing challenges. Emergency managers encourage rural residents to support their local volunteer departments and to participate in community preparedness events organized by fire agencies this month.