National Fire News

August 4, 2026

Yesterday, 112 new fires were reported nationwide, including four new large fires. Firefighters are currently working to contain 99 uncontained large fires across the country. The National Preparedness Level remains at 5 (PL 5), with more than 27,400 personnel assigned to incidents nationwide.

The Northwest continues to experience the nation's most significant wildfire activity, with 50 uncontained large fires burning across Washington and Oregon. Firefighters are responding to numerous incidents threatening homes, communities and critical infrastructure, while evacuations and road closures remain in effect across the region. Large fires by Spokane, Washington, including the Old Trails, Autumn Lane and Fairview fires, continue to impact nearby communities, while the Little Giant Fire in north-central Washington has grown to more than 59,000 acres with extreme fire behavior. In Oregon, the Coleman Creek, Rowe Creek Complex and Big Grass fires remain among the nation's largest active incidents, with firefighters continuing to protect communities and infrastructure. Fire activity also remains elevated across the Great Basin and Northern Rockies. 

Four new large fires were reported yesterday, including the Griffin Fire in Montana, the Gann Fire in California, the Bear Hallow Fire in Texas and South Connell in Washington, highlighting continued fire potential across multiple geographic areas.

Predictive Services forecasts another day of elevated fire weather across much of the West. Hot, dry and unstable conditions are expected to expand across western portions of the Northwest, while a strengthening thermal trough will create high-risk fire potential for southwest Oregon extending north along the Cascades to the Columbia River Gorge. Extreme heat will continue across inland California, the Great Basin, the Southwest and southern Plains, with minimum relative humidity as low as 3 to 15 percent across much of the West.

With wildfire activity remaining high nationwide, everyone can help reduce the risk of human-caused fires by following local fire restrictions, avoiding activities that create sparks, securing trailer chains and fully extinguishing campfires before leaving them.