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The U.S. Is Now At Its Worst Level of Wildfire Preparedness. What Does That Mean?

A view of burning area as crews battle with wildfire named as 'Mines Fire' in Santa Clara County, Calif. on July 26, 2026. —Tayfun Coskun—Getty ImagesFederal officials have moved the national wildfire preparedness level to its highest level: a five out of five. That means that, as we approach peak fire season in the U.S., federal agencies might not have enough resources to address every new fire. What are U.S. wildfire preparedness levels?A number of federal agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fire Administration, and the National Weather Service, are responsible for allocating f...