2026 Wildfire Forecast in the Intermountain Region and Pacific Northwest

By Jennifer Hunt (Content Writer), Nicole Porter (District Manager), and Brian Vrablick (Intermountain Region Manager)

Thanks to the recorded all-time low snowpack and the forecasted El Niño Watch, coupled with drought and above-average heat, wildfires are expected to be larger and harder to contain this year. With wildfire season upon us, we want to share AccuWeather predictions facing the western United States to help landowners and homeowners be aware of what to expect, as well as recommendations from AFM District Managers in Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

AccuWeather’s projections for the 2026 wildfire season include:

• 65,000-80,000 wildfires expected (compared to 77,850 wildfires in 2025)
• 5.5 to 8 million acres projected to burn (compared to 5.1 million acres in 2025)
• Areas with the greatest risk of wildfires are Idaho and western Montana

Of course, the risk of wildfires is not only contained to the fires themselves. Winds can transport the smoke from large wildfires hundreds to thousands of miles away from the site of the fire, which reduces air quality and slightly lowers daytime temperatures under a hazy sky. Smoky conditions can spread across the country into the Midwest and all the way to the Northeast. It’s crucial to monitor air quality conditions even outside of fire zones to protect individuals who work or spend significant time outdoors. While these predictions can give homeowners and landowners insight into what the upcoming wildfire season might hold, preparation is key.

To help landowners shore up their defenses and stay safe this season, Nicole Porter, District Manager in Kalispell, Montana, and Brian Vrablick, Region Manager in Spokane, Washington, share several tips.

• Minimize your property’s risk of wildfire by creating a fire-resilient Home Ignition Zone (HIZ): The HIZ refers to the area up to 200 feet around the home and any other structures. By reducing ignition sources and managing vegetation in the HIZ, you dramatically increase the home’s chance of withstanding a wildfire.
• Download the Watch Duty app: It allows users to set alerts for their area or property and keeps them apprised of wildfire and flood tracking. It utilizes a combination of official data sources and human monitoring by experienced volunteers, including active and retired firefighters, dispatchers, and first responders.
• Follow Ready, Set, Go: Ready is the process of preparing your home and creating defensible space around it. Set means to heighten awareness when a wildfire is nearby. Go is action-oriented and encourages homeowners to prepare a “go-bag” and evacuate immediately when ordered.
• Go-Bag essentials: Pack enough for yourself and family members for 72 hours. Your bag should include prescriptions, passports, mortgage and insurance information, cards and cash, precious items that are small and irreplaceable, bottled water, and snacks that do not need refrigeration. If you have pets, remember to pack a bag for them as well. It should include prescriptions, vet records, a collar/harness with the pet’s name and your contact information, bottled water, dry food, and snacks.

Our team is committed to helping landowners protect their land and natural resources. We’re here to guide you and support you no matter what the wildfire season holds.