U.S. Raises Wildfire Readiness to Highest Level Amid Surge in Fires

The National Multi‑Agency Coordinating Group upgraded the United States wildfire preparedness to level 5—the highest on its 1‑to‑5 scale—on July 18, marking the first such elevation since October 2024. The decision follows a well‑above‑average fire season, with about 4 million acres burned nationwide to date, exceeding the 10‑year average of roughly 3 million acres.

Spokesman Stanton Florea of the National Interagency Fire Center said, “We expect it to remain very active, with the Northwest continuing to have a lot of fire activity.” Large‑fire activity persists across the Great Basin, the Rocky Mountains, the Southwest and the Northwest, while Alaska’s fire activity has recently declined. As of July 20, nearly 19,400 personnel were engaged on major fires, and the fire center reports 74 large wildfires, including five new incidents in the past day.

The level‑5 status means federal resources are fully committed and fire managers must take emergency measures to sustain operations, reflecting the extensive demands on firefighting crews and equipment across the country.