US Maintains Highest Wildfire Preparedness Level as Over 5.6 Million Acres Burn

The National Interagency Fire Center reports the US remains at National Preparedness Level 5, its highest, with 95 new fires and 95 large fires actively burning, managed by over 30,000 personnel. Over 5.6 million acres have burned in 2026, driven by extreme heat and dry conditions across the West, with temperatures forecast to exceed 100°F. This sustained activity poses significant challenges for containment and continues to impact communities with evacuations and hazardous air quality.