Washington's 2026 wildfire season has burned roughly 425,000 to 450,000 acres, the most since 2021, and fast-moving fires near Spokane have destroyed hundreds of structures. Governor Bob Ferguson requested a federal emergency declaration on August 2, but as of this writing it has not been approved, and only firefighting-cost grants (FMAGs) are active. The practical action for contractors is to get SAM registration and the Disaster Response Registry in place now, because large-scale recovery contracting opens only after a presidential declaration.
Washington is having one of its most severe wildfire seasons in years. State officials report more than 1,000 fires and roughly 425,000 to 450,000 acres burned in 2026, the highest total since 2021, with more than a dozen large fires still active. The situation escalated sharply over the weekend of August 1 and 2, when the Old Trails, Fairview, and Autumn Lane fires jumped into Spokane-area neighborhoods, destroying several hundred structures and forcing more than 65,000 evacuations. Governor Ferguson declared a statewide wildfire emergency and burn ban on August 1 and requested a federal emergency declaration from President Trump on August 2.
That federal request has not yet been approved. This distinction matters more than it might seem. Federal officials have issued nine Fire Management Assistance Grants for Washington fires so far in 2026, most recently for the Sinlahekin, Fairview, and Autumn Lane fires. Those grants reimburse up to 75 percent of eligible firefighting costs, such as field camps, equipment, and crew mobilization. They do not fund debris removal, infrastructure repair, or assistance to individuals and businesses. A presidential emergency or major disaster declaration under the Stafford Act is a separate, larger step, and it is what activates the recovery-side contracting most disaster response businesses want to reach, including federal Public Assistance funding, expedited federal acquisition rules, and local-area contracting preference. Until that declaration is signed, there is no county list, no local-preference area, and no wave of federal recovery solicitations to bid on.
While recovery contracting waits on a declaration, firefighting-support contracting is already active and does not depend on one. Roughly 4,000 firefighters are working the Washington fires, supported by Washington National Guard units, out-of-state crews, and federal resources coordinated through the National Interagency Fire Center. Nearly all of the aviation, engines, water tenders, mobile catering, and shower units supporting that effort come from private contractors, not government-owned equipment.
The U.S. Forest Service procures this support through VIPR, its incident procurement system. VIPR is mid-transition; the legacy system went offline December 1, 2025, and VIPR Next Gen is rolling out through 2026. Registering requires a Login.gov account and an active SAM registration with company details that match exactly across both systems. If your business owns fire-suppression equipment, provides catering or shower units, or supplies crews and support personnel, this is the channel to pursue right now, and the Interagency Incident Applications Helpdesk can walk you through the current registration steps while the new system stabilizes.
If a presidential emergency or major disaster declaration is approved, several federal contracting mechanisms activate at once. Under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 18, agencies supporting the response can raise the micro-purchase and simplified acquisition thresholds and use faster, less formal buying methods. Under FAR Subpart 26.2, contracting officers must give preference, to the extent feasible, to local firms within the declared disaster area. FAR 52.226-3 defines a local firm as one residing or doing business primarily in the declared area, a definition worth checking your own business against now.
Recovery contracting itself typically does not run through a single federal office directly. Most of it flows through the federal Public Assistance program, which grants funds to the state, counties, tribes, and eligible nonprofits, who then hire contractors for the actual work. Category A, debris removal, generates the largest share of private contractor participation, followed by permanent-work categories covering roads, public buildings, and utilities. Businesses that want in on this work should be registered in SAM's Disaster Response Registry now, since contracting officers and Public Assistance applicants search that registry when identifying vendors once a declaration lands.
Recovery contracting does not open immediately after a declaration. Based on recent wildfire disasters, the gap runs anywhere from about six weeks to several months. After the January 2025 Los Angeles fires, large-scale debris removal began within roughly six to seven weeks of the declaration. After the 2023 Lahaina, Hawaii fires, hazardous material removal began within about two weeks, but full residential debris removal did not begin until roughly five months later, once environmental clearance and property access agreements were in place. Washington's timeline, if a declaration is approved, will likely fall somewhere in that range depending on how quickly county and state Public Assistance applicants get contracts in place.
This is where preparation now pays off later. Debris removal, hazardous tree removal, environmental remediation, and reconstruction work typically get procured under NAICS codes such as:
Confirming your capabilities statement and SAM profile reflect the right codes now means you are visible to contracting officers and county procurement staff the moment work is authorized, rather than scrambling to fix your registration after the opportunity has already opened.
Has the wildfires' federal disaster declaration been approved yet?
Not as of this writing. Governor Ferguson requested a federal emergency declaration on August 2, 2026, but the request was still pending. Check official federal disaster declaration announcements and the Washington Governor's office directly for the current status before making bidding decisions.
Can a business bid on wildfire recovery contracts right now?
Not yet, for large-scale federal recovery work. That contracting generally follows a presidential declaration. Firefighting-support contracting through the U.S. Forest Service's VIPR system is active now and does not depend on the declaration.
What is the SAM Disaster Response Registry?
It is an opt-in section within your SAM registration, under the Assertions module, where you indicate your bonding levels and geographic coverage for disaster response work. Contracting officers consult it when sourcing vendors for declared disasters.
Does my business have to be based in Washington to do this work?
Not necessarily, but local firms get preference once a declaration is approved. FAR 52.226-3 defines a local firm as one residing or doing business primarily in the declared area. Businesses outside the area can still compete, particularly as subcontractors to larger primes.
How long does it usually take for debris removal contracts to open after a disaster declaration?
Recent wildfire disasters suggest anywhere from about six weeks to five months, depending on how quickly environmental clearance, property access agreements, and local procurement move.
Confirm your SAM registration is active and opt into the Disaster Response Registry under the Assertions module. Review your NAICS codes against the debris removal, remediation, and emergency relief categories relevant to your capabilities, and update your capabilities statement to match. If you supply firefighting equipment, crews, or camp support, start your VIPR Next Gen registration now rather than waiting for the next call for resources. From there, keep an eye on official federal disaster declaration announcements and the Washington Governor's office for the declaration decision, since that is what determines when recovery-side solicitations actually begin. USFCR's Advanced Procurement Portal can help track opportunities as they're posted, so you're not relying on manually refreshing SAM during a fast-moving disaster response.