Resources & Equipment

Two MAFFS C-130 airtankers from the Colorado Air National Guard are now based at Klamath Falls as the nation hits Preparedness Level 5. Over 17,600 firefighters are deployed nationwide with the Northwest as the most active fire region in the country.

Two MAFFS-equipped National Guard C-130 airtankers from Colorado's 302nd Airlift Wing have been deployed to Klamath Falls, Oregon to support wildfire operations, as the National Preparedness Level rises to 4 of 5 amid a multi-state fire outbreak.

With 17,500+ firefighters committed to incidents nationwide and civilian airtankers fully booked, NIFC has activated military MAFFS C-130 aircraft. The Northwest Coordination Center is competing hard for resources as the East Evans Creek and northeast Oregon fires demand major assignments.

More than 1,200 firefighters are on the East Evans Creek Fire alone, while National Guard aircraft, Army Corps engineers, and IMTs are deployed across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho to manage an unprecedented early-season fire load.

With the nation at Preparedness Level 4 and 46 large fires burning coast to coast, the National Interagency Fire Center has mobilized two military MAFFS C-130 airtankers from the California Air National Guard to bolster the aerial firefighting fleet. Nearly 17,000 personnel are currently assigned to wildfire incidents across the country.

With 46 large fires burning 700,000+ acres nationwide and NPL at 4, more than 16,800 firefighters and 16 IMTs are deployed. MAFFS C-130s activated as aviation resources reach capacity. 2026 is tracking well above the 10-year average.

The NIFC reports 42 large uncontained fires burning nationwide with over 14,400 personnel deployed, while the nation remains at Preparedness Level 4. Oregon leads in PNW fire counts with 5 large fires, followed by Washington and Idaho with 4 each.

The National Preparedness Level sits at 4, with nearly 13,000 firefighters, 807 engines, and 126 helicopters deployed nationwide. Military MAFFS C-130 airtankers from the California Air National Guard have been activated to supplement commercial air resources.

NIFC is at National Preparedness Level 4 as 38 large fires burn 541,000+ acres across 14 states. Oregon, Washington, and Idaho each have multiple large active incidents as the 2026 season already outpaces recent years in total acreage burned.

With the National Preparedness Level elevated to 4, interagency firefighting resources are under significant mobilization pressure. In the Pacific Northwest, Incident Management Teams from the Northwest Coordination Center are engaged on multiple fires simultaneously.

The U.S. is at National Preparedness Level 4 with 35 large fires burning 529,468 acres across 12 states. Year-to-date, 37,209 fires have consumed 3.3 million acres — well above recent averages.

The Fourth of July weekend fire outbreak in Washington and Oregon triggered a major mobilization of state and federal firefighting resources, including air crews, ground crews, and incident management teams. With 41 large fires burning nationally and suppression resources stretched thin, coordination across agencies has been critical.

The National Interagency Fire Center elevated the National Preparedness Level to 4 on June 29 — well above historical averages for this time of year — as demand for firefighting resources outpaces availability across the Western United States.

With 9,333 firefighters deployed nationally and Northwest resources committed to large fires in Utah and Colorado, the Pacific Northwest is entering its peak fire season with reduced initial attack capacity. NIFC reports some geographic areas are at drawdown levels.

Three federal firefighters — Emily Barker, 38; Nick Hutcherson, 27; and Sydney Watson, 27 — were killed in a burnover on the Snyder Fire near the Colorado-Utah border on June 27. Two others were injured. The tragedy has renewed calls for firefighter safety and pay reform.

July 2 marked National Wildland Firefighter Day, with Idaho Governor Brad Little issuing a formal proclamation as more than 9,600 personnel nationwide battled active fire incidents. The observance coincides with the NWCG’s Week of Remembrance and the launch of a new safety reporting platform, SafeNetX.

Three wildland firefighters were killed June 28 on the Colorado-Utah border while battling the Snyder Fire. The deaths occurred as the National Wildland Fire Week of Remembrance began, honoring those lost in the line of duty.

With PL4 in effect and 8,200+ firefighters deployed nationally, Northwest communities need to understand what resource strain means for local fire response — and how to prepare their own properties and families for an active fire season ahead.

The National Interagency Coordination Center raised the National Preparedness Level to 4 on June 29 — well ahead of the historical average — as 52 large fires burn across nine states and year-to-date acreage tops 3 million, nearly double the 2025 pace.

The National Interagency Fire Center is holding the nation at Preparedness Level 3, with 45 large fires uncontained nationwide. Year-to-date, 35,247 fires have burned over 2.9 million acres. The Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies face above-normal fire potential through July.