Wildfires in the United States today
So far in 2026, 3,243,965 hectares have burned in the United States — 41% below the 20-year average. Right now 102 wildfires are burning.
3,243,965 hectares so far this year, 41% below the average. Out of the 26 countries the European system tracks, the United States ranks 12th for area burned relative to its average.
Named fires in Pacific Northwest, United States
Detailed reports with satellite imagery and data.
Burning right now “Contained” doesn’t mean out. It’s the share of the perimeter where crews stopped the spread. In most of Europe it isn’t published; “not held back yet” is an official 0%.
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About wildfires in Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest — encompassing Oregon, Washington, and parts of northern California — has experienced increasingly severe wildfire seasons. The 2020 fire season was catastrophic, with over 1 million acres burning in Oregon alone during a single week of extreme wind events.
The region's dense coniferous forests, when combined with drought and east wind events, create conditions for explosive fire growth. Communities across the Cascades and into the Willamette Valley face growing wildfire threats as development pushes into fire-prone landscapes.
This tracker monitors all satellite-detected fires across the Pacific Northwest in real-time.
Today across the United States
Sixty-seven fires are still burning in the United States, covering some 868,700 hectares between them. The biggest by far is the Crosswhite Fire at around 138,800 hectares. Twelve more broke out over the past week.
It has been a better year than usual. The United States has lost 3,322,000 hectares so far, well below the usual 5,481,200 hectares — down 39 percent, sitting at the 12th worst figure among the 26 countries Copernicus tracks.
Around the Crosswhite Fire it is cool and rather humid, with light breezes and no rain in sight for the next 48 hours.
Updated 3 Oct
Pacific Northwest wildfire season
The Pacific Northwest's fire season runs from July through October, peaking in the hot, dry weeks of late summer. The drier country east of the Cascades — Oregon's high desert and Washington's Columbia Basin — burns nearly every year, while the wetter forests to the west usually stay green.
The exception is catastrophic: when strong, dry east winds collide with drought, west-side forests can explode, as they did during the 2020 Labor Day fires. Red flag warnings from the National Weather Service signal these dangerous wind events.
Notable wildfires in history
- 2020 Labor Day Fires
A historic east-wind event drove fires like Beachie Creek, Riverside, and Holiday Farm across Oregon, burning over a million acres in a single week and destroying the towns of Detroit, Talent, and Phoenix.
- 2021 Bootleg Fire
One of the largest fires in modern Oregon history burned more than 400,000 acres in the south-central part of the state and grew so intense it generated its own weather.
- 2017 Eagle Creek Fire
Started by fireworks, this fire tore through the scenic Columbia River Gorge east of Portland, closing highways and threatening the iconic Multnomah Falls area.
- 2015 Okanogan Complex
The largest wildfire in Washington State history burned across north-central Washington and killed three firefighters during a rapid run.
- 2014 Carlton Complex
Then the largest single fire in Washington history, it burned roughly 256,000 acres in the Methow Valley and destroyed more than 300 homes.
Main causes & risk factors
- Hot, dry summers that cure grass, brush, and timber east of the Cascades
- Powerful dry east-wind events that can turn green west-side forests explosive
- Summer lightning storms igniting remote wilderness and rangeland
- Dense conifer forests holding a century of built-up fuel
- A growing wildland-urban interface in the Cascades and valleys
- Human ignitions from equipment, vehicles, campfires, and fireworks
Safety & preparedness
- Check Oregon Dept. of Forestry and Washington DNR fire danger and any regulated-use closures before heading out
- Obey campfire bans and never leave a fire unattended — most Pacific Northwest ignitions are human-caused
- Learn your area's "Level 1-2-3" (Be Ready, Be Set, Go) evacuation alerts and sign up for county notifications
- Keep N95 masks handy and track the Air Quality Index — Pacific Northwest smoke can linger for days
- Create defensible space around homes in the wildland-urban interface
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Frequently asked questions
When is wildfire season in the Pacific Northwest?
Roughly July through October, peaking in late summer, when heat and drought dry out forests and rangeland across Oregon and Washington.
What was the worst Pacific Northwest fire season?
The 2020 Labor Day fires were historic, burning over a million acres in Oregon in a single week and destroying several towns.
Does this map cover both Oregon and Washington?
Yes — it tracks satellite-detected fires across the entire Pacific Northwest, including Oregon, Washington, and nearby areas, in real time.
Where does this map's fire data come from?
Every hotspot comes from NASA's FIRMS system, using VIIRS satellites that detect active fires several times a day.
Is the Pacific Northwest wildfire map free?
Yes — it's completely free and needs no sign-up. You can watch active fires across the region and the world in real time.