Utah Fires

Daily Wildfire Report for Utah - June 20, 2026

Overview

Utah is experiencing an elevated fire risk due to persistent hot, dry, and windy conditions across the state. A deepening drought and historically dry vegetation in the lower elevations have created highly receptive fuel conditions. The state is seeing a noticeable increase in wildfire activity, with human-caused starts driving the majority of recent incidents. Fire crews remain on heightened alert statewide, working aggressively to contain active blazes while preparing for potential new starts driven by critical fire weather.

Current Situation

Fire Activity: Over the last 72 hours, fire activity has escalated significantly. Firefighters are responding to several new incidents, ranging from fast-moving vegetation fires near the foothills to larger wildland fires in remote counties. Multiple ground resources and aviation assets are currently engaged in initial attacks and sustained suppression efforts.

Key Fires:

• Sawmill Fire: Located in Iron County near Beryl and Lund, this fire has rapidly grown to 3,681 acres. It is burning aggressively through dry desert vegetation, primarily fueled by sagebrush, dry grasses, and pinyon-juniper woodlands. Firefighters are actively working to establish and reinforce containment lines.
• Iron Fire: Reported overnight on June 19, this human-caused fire is burning across portions of Juab, Utah, and Tooele counties and is currently estimated at over 1,000 acres. While no structures are currently threatened, multiple ground crews and air resources arrived on the scene Saturday morning to engage the fire. It is currently being fueled by critically dry grasses and brush.
• Ensign Peak Fire: A recent vegetation fire north of downtown Salt Lake City that threatened nearby homes and prompted a large, rapid firefighting response. Crews have successfully contained the blaze, though they continue to monitor the area for hotspots.

Prescribed Burns and Land Management: Due to the extreme fire danger, Stage 1 fire restrictions have been widely implemented across the state. Northern Utah restrictions cover all unincorporated private and state lands in Rich, Box Elder, Cache, Weber, Salt Lake, Morgan, Davis, Tooele, and Wasatch counties, as well as the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forests. Central Utah restrictions now include Juab, Millard, Sanpete, Sevier, Wayne, and Piute counties, alongside the Fishlake National Forest. Summit County has also implemented Stage 1 restrictions, which include a strict ban on fireworks. Open burning is closed in incorporated areas for the season, and burn permits are strictly regulated in unincorporated areas.
Air Quality: Utah's skies are currently smoky, with haze carried in from active wildfires in neighboring Arizona and Nevada, compounded by the increased fire activity within the state. Residents, particularly those in the Salt Lake Valley and near active fires, may experience reduced air quality and should take necessary health precautions.

Weather and Wind Warnings

Current Weather: Hot and dry conditions persist across much of the state. Widely scattered thunderstorms are developing today, bringing the threat of frequent lightning and strong, erratic outflow winds up to 60 mph. Unfortunately, these storms are expected to produce very little rainfall, increasing the risk of dry lightning strikes.
Forecasted Weather: The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City has issued widespread Red Flag Warnings for large portions of central, southern, west-central, and southwest Utah, including the Central Utah West Desert and Color Country West Desert. These warnings remain in effect through the weekend due to critical fire weather conditions, including southwest winds of 15 to 25 mph (with gusts up to 35 mph) and relative humidity dropping as low as 5% to 10%. Any new or existing fires are likely to spread rapidly under these extreme conditions.

Recommendations

Public Awareness: Residents are strongly urged to avoid any activities that could spark a wildfire. This includes avoiding parking vehicles over dry grass, securing tow chains to prevent dragging, and properly discarding cigarettes. With Stage 1 restrictions in place, it is crucial to adhere to all campfire and fireworks bans. Residents should stay alert for emergency notifications and ensure they have an evacuation plan ready.
Resource Allocation: The State of Utah Wildland Fire Operations Center has crews on-call and deployed to active incidents locally and regionally. Agencies are maximizing their available workforce to conduct initial attacks on new starts while monitoring high-risk wildland-urban interface areas.

Resources

For up-to-date emergency information, residents can visit:
National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC): www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn
Utah Fire Info: utahfireinfo.gov

Stay informed and prepared by monitoring these resources regularly.