Active Fires

The 2026 wildfire season has burned more than 2.3 million acres nationwide through May 22 — nearly double the 10-year average — with 18 uncontained large fires active and over 5,000 personnel deployed.

The Santa Rosa Island Fire in Channel Islands National Park burned 18,379 acres before reaching 87% containment as of May 23. The remote island location required extensive air and maritime logistics to support the interagency firefighting effort.

Lightning-sparked wildfires in southwest Kansas have burned more than 127,000 acres across Clark, Ford, Harper, Meade, and Morton counties. Evacuations were ordered near Ashland as the multi-county outbreak became one of the largest fire events in the region this year.

NIFC reports 18 uncontained large fires burning nationwide as of May 22, with 5,000+ personnel deployed and 2.3 million acres burned year-to-date — well above the 10-year average. Memorial Day weekend brings elevated human-caused fire risk.

The U.S. has recorded more than 1.9 million acres burned and 26,568 fires in 2026 so far, with 16 large fires currently uncontained and nearly 2,000 firefighters engaged across multiple states as the season escalates ahead of summer.

Nearly 1.9 million acres have burned across more than 26,500 fires nationwide through mid-May 2026 — well above the 10-year average — as the national preparedness level sits at 2 and major fires burn from Florida to Montana to California.

The Santa Rosa Island Fire has burned more than 16,900 acres — nearly a third of the Channel Islands National Park island — destroying historic structures, scorching a rare Torrey pine grove, and forcing park closure. The fire ignited after a sailor's distress flare landed in dry vegetation.

NIFC reports 26,568 fires and 1.9 million acres burned nationwide through May 15, far above the 10-year average, with 15 large fires active across nine states as National Preparedness Level holds at 2.

The Santa Rosa Island Fire in California's Channel Islands National Park has grown to 16,942 acres and burned through the island's rare Torrey pine grove, the largest fire ever recorded on the island. It's 26% contained.

With 26,568 fires burning more than 1.9 million acres through mid-May — nearly double the 10-year average — 2026 is shaping up as one of the most active wildfire years on record. The national preparedness level stands at 2 with large fires burning in eight states.

With the national fire year already tracking well above the ten-year average — 26,568 fires and nearly 1.9 million acres burned through mid-May — fire activity is accelerating across multiple regions of the country under hot, dry, and windy conditions.

NIFC reports 16 uncontained large fires burning nationally as of May 15, with over 1.9 million acres burned so far in 2026 — well above the ten-year average. National preparedness level remains at 2.

NIFC reports 16 large fires burning nationwide as 2026 wildfire totals surpass 1.9 million acres — well above the ten-year average. Nearly 2,000 firefighters are assigned to active incidents at National Preparedness Level 2.

With 25,560 fires and 1.88 million acres burned through mid-May — well above the 10-year average — federal fire managers are tracking nine large active fires across four states as the 2026 fire season accelerates.

The U.S. is at National Preparedness Level 2 with 12 uncontained large fires burning in 6 states. More than 1.88 million acres have burned nationwide in 2026, well above the 10-year average.

As of May 12, the U.S. has recorded 25,865 fires and 1.89 million acres burned in 2026 — well above the 10-year average. Fifteen large fires are active across eight states including Oregon, Florida, New Mexico, and California, with 1,803 personnel currently deployed.

The 2026 wildfire season is tracking well above the 10-year average, with over 1.88 million acres burned and 16 large fires burning across nine states as of May 11.

NIFC reports nearly 1.85 million acres burned since January 1 — already surpassing the 10-year average — as the nation enters Wildfire Awareness Month at National Preparedness Level 2.

The National Interagency Fire Center's 2026 Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook paints a sobering picture, with above-normal fire risk stretching across the West and into the South this summer.

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