2026 United States wildfires

2026 United States wildfires
Statistics
Total fires	1,623 [1]
Total area	14,948 acres (6,049 ha) [1]

This is a list of wildfires across the United States during 2026, that have burned more than 1,000 acres (400 hectares), produced significant structural damage or casualties, or otherwise been notable. Acreage and containment figures may not be up to date.

Background

Season background

While most wildfires in the United States occur from May to November, wildfires can occur during any time of the year. Peak fire season is normally in August, when it is the hottest and driest. Wildfires outside of the fire season are becoming more common from climate change and changing weather patterns. Rising temperatures are leading to earlier snowmelt and later fall and winter precipitation. Drought and hot, dry weather events are becoming more common. Forests pests, such as bark beetles, and invasive species, such as cheatgrass, kill trees and make forests more vulnerable. Areas with dense vegetation or tree cover provide ample fire fuel. ^[2]

List

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by editing the page to add missing items, with references to reliable sources.

Name	State	County	Acres	Start date	Containment date [a]	Notes/References
Shell Creek	Oklahoma	McIntosh	1,263	January 15	January 19	2026 Oklahoma wildfires [4]
Calf	Oklahoma	Pittsburg	1,575	January 16	January 20	2026 Oklahoma wildfires [5]
Silver Lake	Florida	Wakulla	4,810	January 17	60%	Started in Apalachicola National Forest. [6]
Havasu	Arizona	Mohave	4,060	January 19	20%	Started from an escaped prescribed burn. [7] [8]

See also

• 2026 Oklahoma wildfires

References

1. Containment means that fire crews have established and secured control lines around the fire's perimeter. These lines are artificial barriers, like trenches or cleared vegetation, designed to stop the fire's spread, or natural barriers like rivers. Containment reflects progress in managing the fire but does not necessarily mean the fire is starved of fuel, under control, or put out. ^[3]

1. "National Interagency Fire Center National Fire News Year-to-date statistics". National Interagency Fire Center . January 17, 2026. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
2. "When is Wildfire Season in the US?". wfca.com. Western Fire Chiefs Association. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
3. "What containment and other wildfire related terms mean". Los Angeles: KCAL-TV. September 12, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
4. "Shell Creek Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
5. "Calf Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
6. "Silver Lake Fire Map". Watch Duty . Retrieved January 21, 2026.
7. "Havasu Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
8. "Havasu Fire Information". InciWeb . Retrieved January 21, 2026.