2020 Utah wildfires | |
---|---|
Date(s) | May 12 - November 7 |
Statistics[2][3] | |
Total fires | 1,547[1] |
Total area | 329,732 acres |
Impacts | |
Damage | >$103 million (suppression)[4] |
2020 Western U.S. wildfires |
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The 2020 Utah wildfire season was a series of prominent wildfires throughout the state of Utah, lasting from June 1 through October 30, as defined by state law.[5] Part of the 2020 Western United States wildfire season, Utah saw record-breaking numbers of human-caused fires. The largest fire of the season, the East Fork Fire, burned an area of 89,568 acres.[6] In total, the suppression costs for the fires amounted to at least $103 million (2020 USD).[4]
Of the 1,547[1] fires in Utah during 2020, 1,202 (78%) were human-caused, surpassing 2015's record of 937. These fires accounted for nearly 100,000 of the 329,732 total acres burned during this season.[7] The significant rise in human-caused fires was attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, as it forced recreation outside at higher rates.[8]
On May 27, Utah observed 237 wildfires (of which 95% were human-caused); a near fourfold increase compared to the previous season's 67 wildfires recorded at that same date.[9] Throughout the early season, record-breaking numbers of fires (especially human-caused) exceeded previous season equivalents.[10] This, coupled with an abnormally hot and dry spring[11][12] led fire officials, meteorologists, and hydrologists to believe that the season would be unusually active.[9][13]
The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), or produced significant structural damage or casualties.
Name | County | Acres | Start date | Containment date | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saddle | Wasatch | 683 | May 12 | May 22 | A juvenile was taken into custody on alleged connection to the Saddle Fire, and 3 other fires in the local area. | [4][14][15] |
Anderson Junction | Washington | 786 | May 18 | May 19 | Caused by vehicle dragging chains, 3 structures destroyed. | [4][16] |
Tabby Canyon | Tooele | 13,378.1 | May 30 | June 2 | Caused by exploding target. Merged with North Stansbury Fire on June 1 at 6,848.8 acres. | [4][17] |
North Stansbury (Tabby Canyon) | Tooele | 5,336.9 | June 1 | June 2 | Caused by heavy equipment use. Merged with Tabby Canyon Fire, lost its name. | [4][18] |
Bar H | Box Elder | 1,352 | June 3 | June 4 | Caused by lightning. | [4][19] |
Matlin | Box Elder | 6,292 | June 3 | June 4 | Caused by lightning. | [4][19] |
Elberta | Utah | 1,977 | June 5 | June 8 | Human-caused. | [4][20] |
Promontory | Weber | 1,000 | June 6 | June 8 | Caused by lightning. | [4][21][22] |
Lucin | Box Elder | 780 | June 12 | June 12 | Human-caused, partially burned a historic trestle from the Transcontinental Railroad Grade. | [4][23] |
Big Springs | Tooele | 2,912 | June 14 | June 16 | Human-caused, 11 structures destroyed. | [4][24][25] |
Rock Path | Millard, Beaver | 20,941 | June 25 | July 1 | Caused by lightning. Merged with Antelope Fire on June 27 at 6,000+ acres. | [4][26][27] |
Antelope (Rock Path) | Millard, Beaver | 3,000+ | June 25 | July 1 | Caused by lightning. Merged with Rock Path Fire, lost its name. | [4][26][28] |
Canal | Millard, Juab | 78,065 | June 27 | July 13 | Caused by lightning. 100% contained on June 27 at 450 acres, escaped containment on June 28 due to strong winds. Destroyed 34 structures. | [4][29][30] |
Wire Pass | Kane | 1,588 | June 26 | July 2 | Caused by lightning. Started north of the Utah-Arizona border above the Mangum Fire within relatively close proximity. | [4][31][32] |
Knolls | Utah | 12,979 | June 28 | July 3 | Human-caused. 3,100+ homes evacuated in Saratoga Springs, an estimated 13,000+ people. 1 home destroyed, 12 damaged. | [4][33][34] |
Lund | Iron | 837 | July 4 | July 4 | Human-caused, 1 structure and 2 cars destroyed. | [4][35] |
Big Summit | Iron, Lincoln | 8,461 | July 13 | July 21 | Started near Panaca, Nevada, and crossed into Utah on July 14. Evacuations in Hamlin Valley, destroyed 1 structure. | [4][36][37] |
Veyo West | Washington | 2,618 | July 13 | July 23 | Human-caused, 7 structures destroyed. | [4][38] |
Turkey Farm Road | Washington | 11,993 | July 13 | July 19 | Caused by fireworks, 1 structure destroyed. | [4][39] |
Howell Peak | Millard | 1,885 | July 19 | August 6 | [4] | |
Cottonwood Trail | Washington | 1,631 | July 19 | July 21 | Caused by a blown tire. | [4][40] |
Dennis Hill | Box Elder | 2,658 | July 20 | July 26 | Human-caused. | [4] |
Pine Hollow | Kane, Coconino | 11,405 | July 29 | August 5 | Caused by lightning one mile south of the Utah-Arizona border, and crossed into Utah. It entered the perimeter of the Wire Pass fire that burned a month prior. | [4][41][42] |
Hollow | Sanpete, Utah | 1,416 | July 31 | August 3 | Human-caused, destroyed 2 structures. | [4][43] |
Richard Mountain | Daggett, Sweetwater | 7,633 | August 3 | August 11 | Started in Wyoming, and crossed into Utah on the same day. | [4][44][45][46] |
East Fork | Duchesne | 89,765 | August 21 | November 5 | Caused by lightning. Merged with the Phinney Lake fire at 10,040 acres. It destroyed 11 structures. | [4][6][47] |
Greenville | Beaver | 1,103 | August 22 | August 23 | Caused by lightning. | [4] |
Gray Hill | Millard | 6,845 | August 23 | August 24 | Caused by lightning. | [4] |
Center Creek Trail | Duchesne | 1,274 | August 25 | October 13 | Caused by lightning. | [4][48] |
Phinney Lake (East Fork) | Duchesne | 4,469 | August 30 | November 5 | Caused by lightning. Started north of the East Fork fire and merged with it on September 7, losing its name. | [4][47] |
William | Utah, Juab | 5,832 | September 6 | November 9 | Caused by target shooting. Started in Utah County, and spread south into Juab County. | [4][49] |
White Sage | Tooele | 6,000 | September 18 | September 21 | Human-caused, started in the Dugway Proving Ground. | [4] |
Veyo Road | Washington | 2,262 | September 27 | September 30 | Human-caused. | [4] |
Range | Utah | 3,496 | October 17 | November 11 | Caused by police target shooting. | [4][50] |
Fire Canyon | Summit | 1,670 | October 18 | October 21 | Human-caused. | [4] |
Hag Boundry | Box Elder | 2,727 | October 29 | October 29 | Started in the Utah Test and Training Range's northern segment near the Great Salt Lake. | [4][51] |
Snow Canyon | Washington | 1,000 | November 6 | November 7 | Human-caused. | [4][52] |
As of August 7, 2023 (UTC)
Live fire updates: https://utahfireinfo.gov/active-wildfires |