Sawmill

Fire Start, Size and Growth

Start Date/Time/Location: The Sawmill Fire ignited around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, near Steamboat Mountain, located north of the towns of Beryl and Lund in Iron County, Utah.
Size and Containment: As of the latest updates over the last 72 hours, the fire is officially 100% contained. It burned a total of 3,790 acres, which included 3,490 acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, 54 acres of private land, and 21 acres of Utah state land.
Fuels, Growth and Rate of Spread: Initially reported at 60 acres, the fire grew rapidly overnight to over 900 acres and continued to expand due to critically dry vegetation, low humidity, and windy conditions. The fire burned primarily through dense pinyon-juniper woodlands at elevations ranging from 6,000 to 6,900 feet.
Containment Efforts: Over a two-week period, firefighters made steady progress to secure the perimeter. Heavy equipment operators and dozers worked day and night to establish continuous containment lines and reliable fuel breaks. Hand crews and engines actively worked the fire's edge to secure lines and mop up hot spots. Aerial resources, including helicopters conducting bucket drops and Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) dropping retardant, were heavily utilized to support ground crews until full containment was achieved.

Emergency Information

Evacuations and Sheltering:
Mandatory Evacuation Orders: During the height of the fire, preemptive evacuation orders were issued by the Iron County Sheriff's Office for roughly half a dozen cabins and yurts located 2 to 4 miles from the fire. Because the fire is now fully contained, these orders have been lifted.
Evacuation Warnings: The Iron County Sheriff's Office was prepared to deploy a reverse-911 alert to registered residents if the fire expanded to threaten permanent homes, though this ultimately was not necessary.
Evacuation Shelters and Information: Residents with questions regarding property access or past evacuations were advised to contact the Iron County Sheriff's Office directly at 435-586-9445.

Road and Infrastructure Closures:

• No major highway or infrastructure closures were required.
• The Iron County Sheriff's Office Volunteer Posse previously advised the public to avoid local roads near the fire perimeter around Steamboat Mountain to allow emergency personnel safe access.
• No school or business closures were reported.

For more information on evacuations and road closures, visit:

• Utah Fire Info
• Iron County Sheriff's Office
• Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Utah

Current Impact

Impacts:
Injuries and Fatalities: No injuries or fatalities have been reported in connection with the Sawmill Fire.
Structures Impacted: Firefighters successfully focused heavily on protecting nearby structures while strengthening containment lines. No permanent homes or primary structures were destroyed, though local cabins and yurts were temporarily threatened.
School and Business Closures: No significant school or business closures occurred in the immediate area.
Notable Impacts: Residents throughout Iron County, particularly in the western and northern portions, experienced visible smoke and reduced air quality while the fire was active. Now that the fire is contained, post-fire environmental assessments and watershed restoration efforts, including aerial seeding, are underway.

Safety Concerns:
Power Outages: No power outages were reported as a result of this fire.
Water Safety: No specific water safety concerns have been reported, but residents should monitor local advisories.
Burn Bans: Stage 1 fire restrictions remain in effect across southern Utah due to extreme fire danger, restricting open fires and activities that could ignite new wildfires.
Air Quality: While smoke impacts have diminished with full containment, residents with respiratory conditions are always advised to monitor local air quality advisories during the active fire season.

Ongoing Outlook

Containment Projections: The Sawmill Fire is now 100% contained. Firefighters spent approximately two weeks battling the blaze and have successfully secured the perimeter. Crews will continue to monitor the area for any lingering hot spots and conduct post-fire rehabilitation.
Weather and Wind Warnings: While this specific fire is contained, the region remains under elevated fire risk. Current weather forecasts for Iron County show sunny conditions with high temperatures in the upper 80s to low 90s and very low humidity (around 20-30%). Residents should remain vigilant as these hot and dry conditions are highly conducive to new fire starts.

Cause and the Role of Weather and Climate

Cause: Utah Fire Info determined that the Sawmill Fire was caused by lightning.
Weather and Climate: The fire's rapid spread was heavily influenced by extreme fire risk conditions across Utah. The region is experiencing a very dry start to the summer with hot temperatures, prolonged drought conditions, and critically dry vegetation. These climate factors, combined with gusty winds and low humidity, left fuels highly susceptible to ignition, creating a dangerous environment that challenged initial suppression efforts.

For more information, visit:

• Utah Fire Info Official Website
• Iron County Emergency Management
• National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)