Historic Wildfires Devastate Pacific Northwest Amid Prolonged Dry Conditions
The Pacific Northwest is grappling with an unprecedented wildfire season, with over 2.9 million acres (1.1 million hectares) burned across Washington and Oregon as of early August 2026. According to the US National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), 95 large blazes are currently active nationwide, with extreme fire behavior reported in multiple regions. Washington is experiencing its most destructive fire season, while Oregon has recorded its highest burned acreage in history. The fires have destroyed at least 846 structures in eastern Washington, including entire neighborhoods in Spokane. The region's dry conditions, exacerbated by climate change and the El Niño phenomenon, are expected to persist, with below-normal precipitation forecast through November. Firefighting resources are stretched thin, with the US at preparedness level 5, indicating full deployment of available resources.