Researchers and meteorologists are cautioning that a severe wildfire season is on the horizon for the western United States in 2026, with AccuWeather estimating that between 5.5 and 8 million acres could be scorched nationwide. The hot and arid conditions prevalent in the Southwest, Great Basin, Pacific Northwest, and Rockies have heightened the fire risk, further exacerbated by a federal decision to significantly cut back on controlled burns — the main strategy employed to establish firebreaks and diminish fuel loads. The smoke from significant wildfires in the west could degrade air quality throughout the continental United States, increasing health hazards well beyond the affected areas.
