Map Shows Largest Active Wildfires in US Right Now

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Key points

• The Little Giant Fire in Chelan and Okanogan counties has grown to 137, 294 acres and is only 10 percent contained.
• Rounding out the top 10 is the Southwest Kansas Wildfire Outbreak, a collection of fires that has burned 127, 840 acres throughout portions of southwestern Kansas.
• Another major Oregon fire, the Coleman Creek Fire in Harney County, ranks third at 308, 721 acres.
• The Coleman Creek Fire began July 25 after a significant lightning storm moved through the area on July 22, producing thousands of strikes in eastern Oregon's Harney County.
• The Kaiser Canyon Fire in Okanogan and Ferry counties has reached 138, 292 acres.

In practice, a map created by Newsweek showing the United States' largest active wildfires highlights the extraordinary scale of the 2026 fire season, with massive blazes in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah and Kansas collectively accounting for millions of burned acres. Data from active incident reports show the West continues to dominate the nation's wildfire activity, with Oregon alone home to four of the 10 largest fires at present listed. The 2026 season is running substantially ahead of 2025 by acreage, with more than 7.2 million acres burned nationwide as of August 16, compared with regarding 5 million acres during all of last year. Unlike 2025, which began with destructive wind-driven fires in Southern California before sizeable summer fires spread more broadly throughout the West, this year's biggest active incidents are concentrated farther north, particularly in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. As drought persisted or worsened, July rainfall fell below normal, fuels dried out, and temperatures remained elevated, federal forecasters remarked two major lightning events accelerated fire activity throughout the Northwest in mid-July. The map of the nation's largest active wildfires highlights the extraordinary scale of the 2026 fire season, with massive blazes in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah and Kansas collectively accounting for millions of burned acres. Data from active incident reports show the West continues to dominate the nation's wildfire activity, with Oregon alone home to four of the 10 largest fires at present listed. Where Are the Largest Wildfires in the US Right Now? Notably, the top 10 largest active wildfires burning in the U.S. At present are as follows: Sizeable Grass Fire The largest active wildfire in the country is the Major Grass Fire in eastern Oregon. It has grown to 579, 169 acres, according to InciWeb, the U.S. Government's official public-facing website for wildfire and other incident information. The fire, located in Malheur County near the Oregon-Idaho border, has become the largest wildfire in Oregon history and has required extensive firefighting resources as crews battle the blaze throughout rangeland and rugged terrain. As of the most recent update, the fire is 85 percent contained. Rowe Creek Complex Second on the list is the Rowe Creek Complex in Oregon. It has burned 373, 785 acres. Notably, the lightning-caused complex lies south of Fossil and remains one of the largest incidents in the Pacific Northwest this summer. This blaze is 89 percent contained, according to the most recent InciWeb update. Coleman Creek Fire Another major Oregon fire, the Coleman Creek Fire in Harney County, ranks third at 308, 721 acres. This fire is 95 percent contained. "The Coleman Creek Fire began July 25 after a significant lightning storm moved through the area on July 22, producing thousands of strikes in eastern Oregon's Harney County. The fire – burning in grass, brush, and juniper – has pushed north and east with steady winds and a solid fuel load, reaching as far as Highway 20 and the small community of Juntura, " an incident overview for the fire remarked. Hay Creek Complex This fire has reached 200, 292 acres and is located in north-central Oregon. Firefighters say the blaze is 97 percent contained. It ignited in mid-July since of a lightning strike. Tartar Fire The Pacific Northwest accounts for much of the nation's largest wildfire acreage. Idaho's Tartar Fire has reached 158, 027 acres, making it the fifth-largest active fire at present listed. Incident records place the fire near Weiser in Washington County, Idaho, where it has burned throughout substantial expanses of rangeland. This fire ignited in late July and is 98 percent contained. Sinlahekin Fire Washington is additionally home to a number of of the largest fires in the country. The Sinlahekin Fire, sparked by lightning in Okanogan County, has burned 154, 162 acres, making it the largest active wildfire in Washington. The fire grew rapidly during periods of hot, dry and windy weather and has become one of the biggest fires on record in the state. It is 44 percent contained. Kaiser Canyon Fire Two extra Washington fires additionally create the top 10. The Kaiser Canyon Fire in Okanogan and Ferry counties has reached 138, 292 acres. The blaze ignited in mid-July from the lightning storm, and firefighters have achieved 89 percent containment. Little Giant Fire Meanwhile, the Little Giant Fire in Chelan and Okanogan counties has grown to 137, 294 acres and is only 10 percent contained. This blaze additionally kicked off in mid-July from lightning. As well as poor access in steep, inaccessible country, all firefighters disengaged and hiked out on July 18, "Due to winds and rose fire behavior. Warm weather, winds and low humidity has led to more active fire behavior since July 20th, " an incident overview remarked. Widemouth 2 Fire Utah's Widemouth 2 Fire ranks ninth nationally at 129, 741 acres. The blaze, burning in Millard County, is among a number of substantial fires that have affected parts of Utah this summer against the backdrop of dry conditions and periods of elevated fire weather. The Widemouth 2 Fire is 93 percent contained. It ignited in late July from lightning, and firefighters anticipate full containment by the end of August. Southwest Kansas Wildfire Outbreak Rounding out the top 10 is the Southwest Kansas Wildfire Outbreak, a collection of fires that has burned 127, 840 acres throughout portions of southwestern Kansas. InciWeb describes the incident as a multi-fire outbreak that affected areas including Meade and Clark counties. Although the fire is still listed as active on InciWeb, firefighters remarked they achieved 100 percent containment in May. What the Top 10 List Reveals Regarding This Year's Wildfire Season The rankings underscore how heavily concentrated the nation's wildfire activity at present is in the West. Oregon, Washington and Idaho account for eight of the 10 largest active fires, reflecting both persistent drought impacts and the influence of hot, dry summer weather throughout much of the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West. While four separate fires have exceeded 200, 000 acres, the scale of a number of incidents is particularly notable: the Sizeable Grass Fire alone has burned more than half a million acres. The list additionally highlights a limitation of measuring wildfires by size alone. Smaller fires can cause outsized damage when they burn through populated areas, destroy homes or trigger widespread evacuations. For example, the Spokane-area fires in eastern Washington do not rank among the nation's largest by acreage, but they have drawn significant attention since of their impacts on communities and infrastructure. By contrast, some of the country's largest fires are burning in more remote rangeland or forested areas, allowing them to grow to enormous sizes while posing fewer direct threats to population centers. What Happens Next While containment has improved on some of the largest incidents, plenty of remain active and continue to require substantial firefighting resources. Fire authorities throughout the West continue to monitor weather conditions closely as extra heat, wind or dry thunderstorms could rise fire activity in regions already experiencing one of the nation's busiest wildfire seasons. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Sam Wilson.

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Meanwhile, the 2026 season is running substantially ahead of 2025 by acreage, with more than 7.2 million acres burned nationwide as of August 16, compared with regarding 5 million acres during all of last year. Unlike 2025, which began with destructive wind-driven fires in Southern California before sizeable summer fires spread more broadly throughout the West, this year's biggest active incidents are concentrated farther north, particularly in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.

As drought persisted or worsened, July rainfall fell below normal, fuels dried out, and temperatures remained elevated, federal forecasters remarked two major lightning events accelerated fire activity throughout the Northwest in mid-July.

Notably, the map of the nation's largest active wildfires highlights the extraordinary scale of the 2026 fire season, with massive blazes in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah and Kansas collectively accounting for millions of burned acres. Data from active incident reports show the West continues to dominate the nation's wildfire activity, with Oregon alone home to four of the 10 largest fires at present listed. Where Are the Largest Wildfires in the US Right Now?

For context, the top 10 largest active wildfires burning in the U.S. At present are as follows.

In practice, the largest active wildfire in the country is the Major Grass Fire in eastern Oregon. It has grown to 579, 169 acres, according to InciWeb, the U.S. Government's official public-facing website for wildfire and other incident information. The fire, located in Malheur County near the Oregon-Idaho border, has become the largest wildfire in Oregon history and has required extensive firefighting resources as crews battle the blaze throughout rangeland and rugged terrain. As of the most recent update, the fire is 85 percent contained.

Second on the list is the Rowe Creek Complex in Oregon. It has burned 373, 785 acres. The lightning-caused complex lies south of Fossil and remains one of the largest incidents in the Pacific Northwest this summer. This blaze is 89 percent contained, according to the most recent InciWeb update.

Another major Oregon fire, the Coleman Creek Fire in Harney County, ranks third at 308, 721 acres. This fire is 95 percent contained.

"The Coleman Creek Fire began July 25 after a significant lightning storm moved through the area on July 22, producing thousands of strikes in eastern Oregon's Harney County. The fire – burning in grass, brush, and juniper – has pushed north and east with steady winds and a solid fuel load, reaching as far as Highway 20 and the small community of Juntura, " an incident overview for the fire remarked.

This fire has reached 200, 292 acres and is located in north-central Oregon. Firefighters say the blaze is 97 percent contained. It ignited in mid-July since of a lightning strike.

In practice, the Pacific Northwest accounts for much of the nation's largest wildfire acreage. Idaho's Tartar Fire has reached 158, 027 acres, making it the fifth-largest active fire at present listed. Incident records place the fire near Weiser in Washington County, Idaho, where it has burned throughout substantial expanses of rangeland. This fire ignited in late July and is 98 percent contained.

Washington is additionally home to a number of of the largest fires in the country. The Sinlahekin Fire, sparked by lightning in Okanogan County, has burned 154, 162 acres, making it the largest active wildfire in Washington. The fire grew rapidly during periods of hot, dry and windy weather and has become one of the biggest fires on record in the state. It is 44 percent contained.

Two extra Washington fires additionally create the top 10. The Kaiser Canyon Fire in Okanogan and Ferry counties has reached 138, 292 acres. The blaze ignited in mid-July from the lightning storm, and firefighters have achieved 89 percent containment.

Meanwhile, the Little Giant Fire in Chelan and Okanogan counties has grown to 137, 294 acres and is only 10 percent contained. This blaze additionally kicked off in mid-July from lightning.

As well as poor access in steep, inaccessible country, all firefighters disengaged and hiked out on July 18, "Due to winds and rose fire behavior. Warm weather, winds and low humidity has led to more active fire behavior since July 20th, " an incident overview remarked.

Utah's Widemouth 2 Fire ranks ninth nationally at 129, 741 acres. The blaze, burning in Millard County, is among a number of substantial fires that have affected parts of Utah this summer against the backdrop of dry conditions and periods of elevated fire weather. The Widemouth 2 Fire is 93 percent contained. It ignited in late July from lightning, and firefighters anticipate full containment by the end of August.

Rounding out the top 10 is the Southwest Kansas Wildfire Outbreak, a collection of fires that has burned 127, 840 acres throughout portions of southwestern Kansas. InciWeb describes the incident as a multi-fire outbreak that affected areas including Meade and Clark counties.

Although the fire is still listed as active on InciWeb, firefighters remarked they achieved 100 percent containment in May. What the Top 10 List Reveals Regarding This Year's Wildfire Season.

For context, the rankings underscore how heavily concentrated the nation's wildfire activity at present is in the West. Oregon, Washington and Idaho account for eight of the 10 largest active fires, reflecting both persistent drought impacts and the influence of hot, dry summer weather throughout much of the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West. While four separate fires have exceeded 200, 000 acres, the scale of a number of incidents is particularly notable: the Sizeable Grass Fire alone has burned more than half a million acres.

Meanwhile, the list additionally highlights a limitation of measuring wildfires by size alone. Smaller fires can cause outsized damage when they burn through populated areas, destroy homes or trigger widespread evacuations. For example, the Spokane-area fires in eastern Washington do not rank among the nation's largest by acreage, but they have drawn significant attention since of their impacts on communities and infrastructure.

By contrast, some of the country's largest fires are burning in more remote rangeland or forested areas, allowing them to grow to enormous sizes while posing fewer direct threats to population centers.

While containment has improved on some of the largest incidents, plenty of remain active and continue to require substantial firefighting resources. Fire authorities throughout the West continue to monitor weather conditions closely as extra heat, wind or dry thunderstorms could rise fire activity in regions already experiencing one of the nation's busiest wildfire seasons. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Sam Wilson.

In short, map Shows Largest Active Wildfires in US Right Now is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.