The 2026 wildfire season is tracking significantly above historical averages, with the National Interagency Fire Center reporting 36 large fires burning across 12 states as of July 7 and more than 3.3 million acres charred since January 1 — a pace that is outrunning both 2025 and 2024 totals for the same period.

National Snapshot

According to NIFC's July 7 Incident Management Situation Report, 177 new fires were reported nationwide in a single 24-hour period. Active large fires are burning in Alaska (8), Utah (4), Colorado (4), Nevada (3), Idaho (3), Wyoming (3), New Mexico (3), Oregon (2), Montana (2), Washington (2), North Carolina (1), and Arizona (1). The National Preparedness Level has been at Level 4 since June 29, 2026, on a scale of 1 to 5, indicating that significant national resources are already deployed.

Year-to-Date Comparison

  • 2026 (Jan 1–Jul 7): 37,535 fires / 3,369,628 acres
  • 2025 (Jan 1–Jul 7): 36,478 fires / 2,103,792 acres
  • 2024 (Jan 1–Jul 7): 23,124 fires / 2,802,174 acres
  • 2023 (Jan 1–Jul 7): 25,432 fires / 712,820 acres

The 2026 numbers represent a 60% increase in acreage burned compared to the same period in 2025 and the highest seven-month total in at least four years.

Rocky Mountain and Great Basin Hotspots

The Rocky Mountain and Great Basin geographic areas are currently the most active in the contiguous United States. The Willow Fire on the Pike and San Isabel National Forests, burning six miles west of Leadville, Colorado, is exhibiting extreme fire behavior including crowning, running, and torching. Numerous structures and energy infrastructure are threatened, with evacuations, area closures, and road closures in effect. The Ferris Fire in Wyoming has drawn enough attention that a public community meeting is scheduled for Wednesday evening, July 8.

Lightning a Key Driver

Widespread lightning across multiple geographic areas in recent days has been generating new fire starts. NIFC forecasters warn that isolated to locally scattered mixed wet and dry thunderstorms are expected to continue developing across eastern Oregon into the northern and eastern Great Basin and much of the Rockies. With minimum relative humidity falling to 10–25% across much of the Intermountain West, outflow wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with thunderstorm cells — creating extreme ignition and spread conditions for any new starts.

Pacific Northwest Impact

The Pacific Northwest — with large fires currently burning in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho — is an active contributor to the national picture. The Chelan Hills Fire in Douglas County, Washington; the Claremont Fire in the Boise Foothills; and the North Cayuse Fire east of Pendleton are all significant incidents drawing multi-agency response. Fire managers across Oregon and Washington are closely monitoring fuel moisture levels and extended fire weather forecasts as the season enters its most dangerous weeks.