# U.S. Northwest wildfire response

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-northwest-wildfire-response
> Updated: 2026-07-30T02:04:58.000Z. Sources: 16. Developments: 2.

In late July 2026 U.S. fire‑fighting agencies expanded a multi‑jurisdictional effort across the western states and Hawaiʻi. The Hawaiʻi National Guard’s Black Hawk helicopter completed 22 water‑dropping missions on the Kawaihae Road fire, delivering more than 14,500 gal and bringing the blaze to 65 % containment. In eastern Oregon, Army National Guard CH‑47 Chinook and HH‑60M Black Hawk helicopters performed 44 drops, releasing roughly 50,000 gal on the Hagen Fire, which had burned about 33,500 acres and remained only 3 % contained.

Australia and New Zealand contributed 74 firefighters to over a dozen incidents in Oregon and Washington, filling leadership and incident‑management gaps under International Liaison Officer Sam Quigley. CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 4 was deployed to Washington under the Northwest Compact, marking the first CAL FIRE team sent to the state to lead operations on the Sinlahekin Fire, which grew to more than 8,500 acres in three days. AMR Spokane’s Wildland Medical Team operated alongside crews at the Akawa Butte, Castle, Pearl Hill and Modrite fires, providing frontline care for heat‑related illness, smoke inhalation and trauma.

State officials warned that 45 large fires were burning across Washington and Oregon, scorching over 1.8 million acres, while nationwide burn totals reached roughly 2.6 million acres for the year. Governors of Washington, Oregon and Idaho activated additional strike‑team leaders, aviation crews and National Guard troops, and an executive order in Oregon made all wildfire‑qualified staff available for firefighting. Smoke from the blazes pushed air‑quality indexes into unhealthy levels for more than 30 regional cities. Satellite imagery later showed the Old Trails Fire in Spokane County destroying over 700 buildings as it spread rapidly.

## Claims

- State officials reported 45 large fires burning across Washington and Oregon, scorching more than 1.8 million acres. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- About 74 firefighters from Australia and New Zealand were deployed to more than a dozen incidents across Oregon and Washington. (single source)
- Sam Quigley is the International Liaison Officer for the Australian and New Zealand firefighting team. (single source)
- The international crews are filling leadership and incident‑management gaps in the Northwest wildfires. (single source)
- AMR Spokane’s Wildland Medical Team was deployed to the Akawa Butte, Castle, Pearl Hill and Modrite fires. (single source)
- The medical team provides frontline care for firefighters, treating heat‑related illness, smoke inhalation and trauma. (single source)
- Governor Gavin Newsom deployed CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 4 to Washington State under the Northwest Compact Agreement. (single source)
- The CAL FIRE team is responding to the Sinlahekin Fire, which burned over 8,500 acres within three days. (single source)
- This is the first mobilization of a CAL FIRE Incident Management Team to Washington under the Northwest Compact Agreement. (single source)
- AMR Spokane Wildland Medical Team deployed to the Akawa Butte, Castle, Pearl Hill and Modrite fires. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-07-30: International Firefighters Aid Pacific Northwest Wildfire Fight

Australia, New Zealand and California teams join U.S. crews as 45 Pacific Northwest fires burn over 1.8 million acres, prompting medical support and National Guard reinforcements.

13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/northwest-us-wildfires-draw-international-firefighters-and-medical-teams

### 2026-07-30: U.S. National Guard Aids Wildfire Suppression in Hawaii and Oregon

The Hawaiʻi and Oregon National Guards deployed helicopters to drop water on wildfires, delivering thousands of gallons and aiding containment, under state emergency orders.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-national-guard-aids-wildfire-suppression-in-hawaii-and-oregon

---
Cite as: U.S. Northwest wildfire response. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-northwest-wildfire-response