Pacific Northwest Faces Elevated Wildfire Risk Through December
The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) has issued a September-December outlook predicting above-normal wildfire potential across the Pacific Northwest, far northern California, and parts of Idaho. As of September 8, 2026, 89 new fires were reported nationwide, with four classified as large. The total number of fires this year has reached 53,665, burning nearly 8.4 million acres, a significant increase from the 48,114 fires and 4.3 million acres burned during the same period last year. The outlook also highlights the influence of a strengthening El Niño, which is expected to bring drier-than-normal conditions to the northern U.S. and wetter conditions to the south through the fall and winter. The Pacific Northwest is expected to experience above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation, with drought conditions persisting in the region. 
