2020 Utah wildfires explained

2020 Utah wildfires
Date:May 12 - November 7
Reference:[1] [2] |total_fires=1,547[3] |total_area=329,732 acres|cost=>$103 million (suppression)|year=2020|season_name=Utah wildfires|is_season=yes}}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.[4] 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. In total, the suppression costs for the fires amounted to at least $103 million (2020 USD).

Of the 1,547 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.[5] The significant rise in human-caused fires was attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, as it forced recreation outside at higher rates.[6]

Background

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.[7] Throughout the early season, record-breaking numbers of fires (especially human-caused) exceeded previous season equivalents.[8] This, coupled with an abnormally hot and dry spring[9] [10] led fire officials, meteorologists, and hydrologists to believe that the season would be unusually active.[11]

List of wildfires

The following is a list of fires that burned more than, or produced significant structural damage or casualties.

Name County Acres Start date Containment date Notes Ref
SaddleWasatchMay 12May 22A juvenile was taken into custody on alleged connection to the Saddle Fire, and 3 other fires in the local area.[12] [13] [14]
Anderson JunctionWashingtonMay 18May 19Caused by vehicle dragging chains, 3 structures destroyed.[15]
Tabby CanyonTooeleMay 30June 2Caused by exploding target. Merged with North Stansbury Fire on June 1 at 6,848.8 acres.[16]
North Stansbury (Tabby Canyon)TooeleJune 1June 2Caused by heavy equipment use. Merged with Tabby Canyon Fire, lost its name.[17]
Bar HBox ElderJune 3June 4Caused by lightning.[18]
MatlinBox ElderJune 3June 4Caused by lightning.
ElbertaUtahJune 5June 8Human-caused.[19]
PromontoryWeberJune 6June 8Caused by lightning.[20] [21]
LucinBox ElderJune 12June 12Human-caused, partially burned a historic trestle from the Transcontinental Railroad Grade.[22]
Big SpringsTooeleJune 14June 16Human-caused, 11 structures destroyed.[23] [24]
Rock PathMillard, BeaverJune 25July 1Caused by lightning. Merged with Antelope Fire on June 27 at 6,000+ acres.[25] [26]
Antelope (Rock Path)Millard, BeaverJune 25July 1Caused by lightning. Merged with Rock Path Fire, lost its name.[27]
CanalMillard, JuabJune 27July 13Caused by lightning. 100% contained on June 27 at 450 acres, escaped containment on June 28 due to strong winds. Destroyed 34 structures.[28] [29]
Wire PassKaneJune 26July 2Caused by lightning. Started north of the Utah-Arizona border above the Mangum Fire within relatively close proximity.[30] [31]
KnollsUtahJune 28July 3Human-caused. 3,100+ homes evacuated in Saratoga Springs, an estimated 13,000+ people. 1 home destroyed, 12 damaged.[32] [33]
LundIronJuly 4July 4Human-caused, 1 structure and 2 cars destroyed.[34]
Big SummitIron, LincolnJuly 13July 21Started near Panaca, Nevada, and crossed into Utah on July 14. Evacuations in Hamlin Valley, destroyed 1 structure.[35] [36]
Veyo WestWashingtonJuly 13July 23Human-caused, 7 structures destroyed.[37]
Turkey Farm RoadWashingtonJuly 13July 19Caused by fireworks, 1 structure destroyed.[38]
Howell PeakMillardJuly 19August 6
Cottonwood TrailWashingtonJuly 19July 21Caused by a blown tire.[39]
Dennis HillBox ElderJuly 20July 26Human-caused.
Pine HollowKane, CoconinoJuly 29August 5Caused 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.[40] [41]
HollowSanpete, UtahJuly 31August 3Human-caused, destroyed 2 structures.[42]
Richard MountainDaggett, SweetwaterAugust 3August 11Started in Wyoming, and crossed into Utah on the same day.[43] [44] [45]
East ForkDuchesneAugust 21November 5Caused by lightning. Merged with the Phinney Lake fire at 10,040 acres. It destroyed 11 structures.[46] [47]
GreenvilleBeaverAugust 22August 23Caused by lightning.
Gray HillMillardAugust 23August 24Caused by lightning.
Center Creek TrailDuchesneAugust 25October 13Caused by lightning.[48]
Phinney Lake (East Fork)DuchesneAugust 30November 5Caused by lightning. Started north of the East Fork fire and merged with it on September 7, losing its name.
WilliamUtah, JuabSeptember 6November 9Caused by target shooting. Started in Utah County, and spread south into Juab County.[49]
White SageTooeleSeptember 18September 21Human-caused, started in the Dugway Proving Ground.
Veyo RoadWashingtonSeptember 27September 30Human-caused.
RangeUtahOctober 17November 11Caused by police target shooting.[50]
Fire CanyonSummitOctober 18October 21Human-caused.
Hag BoundryBox ElderOctober 29October 29Started in the Utah Test and Training Range's northern segment near the Great Salt Lake.[51]
Snow CanyonWashingtonNovember 6November 7Human-caused.[52]
As of (UTC)Live fire updates: https://utahfireinfo.gov/active-wildfires

See also

External links

  • https://gacc.nifc.gov/gbcc/predictive/products/gbytd-byState.htm - GBCC Great Basin data
  • https://utahfireinfo.gov/active-wildfires - Active wildfires in Utah
  • https://gacc.nifc.gov/sacc/predictive/intelligence/NationalLargeIncidentYTDReport.pdf - Database for large incidents (wildfires, NIFC. Renews annually.)

Notes and References

  1. https://gacc.nifc.gov/gbcc/predictive/products/gbytd-byState.htm<br>*This resource is annually updated, therefore its data doesn't represent this article's fires. For the archived PDF, see Great Basin Coordination Center Year-To-Date Report of Fires and Acres By State & Agency for 2020
  2. https://gacc.nifc.gov/sacc/predictive/intelligence/NationalYTDbyStateandAgency.pdf<br>*This resource is annually updated, therefore its data doesn't represent this article's fires. For the archived PDF, see National Year-to-Date Report on Fires and Acres Burned by State and Agency for 2020.
  3. Web site: Wildfire season recap: 2020 produced most human-caused fires on record in Utah, $60M in costs. 2021-01-01. www.ksl.com. en.
  4. Web site: Burn Permits and Fire Code Utah DNR – FFSL (Forestry, Fire and State Lands). 2020-07-05. ffsl.utah.gov.
  5. Web site: Knox. Annie. 2020-12-10. In Utah's 2020 wildfire season, humans sparked nearly 4 of 5 blazes. 2021-01-01. Deseret News. en.
  6. Web site: The coronavirus pandemic is behind Utah's record number of human-caused wildfires, officials say. 2020-09-08. The Salt Lake Tribune. en-US.
  7. Web site: Utah is off to a scary start for wildfire season due to a dry spring and careless campers. 2020-07-22. The Salt Lake Tribune. en-US.
  8. Web site: 2020-06-24. Utah's Wildfire season: Why the 2020 season is off to a dangerous start. 2020-07-22. ABC4 Utah. en-US.
  9. Web site: 2020-05-25. Dry spring concerns Utah hydrologists. 2020-07-22. KSTU. en.
  10. Web site: Dunphey. Kyle. 2020-05-16. A dry spring and global pandemic has Utah's wildland firefighters bracing for an 'above normal' season. 2020-07-22. Deseret News. en.
  11. Web site: 2020-05-27. Dangerous fire season expected in Utah. 2020-07-22. KSTU. en.
  12. https://gacc.nifc.gov/sacc/predictive/intelligence/NationalLargeIncidentYTDReport.pdf<br>*This resource is annually updated, therefore its data doesn't represent this article's fires. For the archived PDF, see National Large Incident Year-to-Date Report for 2020.
  13. Web site: Price. Virginia. Saddle Fire – May 19, 2020. May 19, 2020 . 2020-07-01. en-US.
  14. Web site: 2020-05-16. Officials: Saddle Fire 100% contained. 2020-07-01. ABC4 Utah. en-US.
  15. Web site: 2020-05-19. 'Anderson Junction Fire' near Toquerville is 100% contained. 2020-07-09. KSTU. en.
  16. Web site: Lenkowski. Hannah. Tabby Canyon and North Stansbury Fires Update 6/01/2020. June 2, 2020 . 2020-07-01. en-US.
  17. Web site: Lenkowski. Hannah. Tabby Canyon Fire and North Stansbury Fire Update 6/02/2020. June 3, 2020 . 2020-07-01. en-US.
  18. Web site: 2020-06-05. 4 wildfires in Box Elder County burned over 8,000 acres. 2020-07-05. ABC4 Utah. en-US.
  19. Web site: 2020-06-06. Portion of Highway 6 closed due to fire near Goshen. 2020-07-05. ABC4 Utah. en-US.
  20. Web site: 2020-06-06. Promontory Fire Grows To 1,000 Acres; Doppler Radar Protected. 2020-07-03. KSLTV.com.
  21. Web site: 2020-06-06. Crews responding to a new fire near Promontory Point. 2020-07-03. ABC4 Utah. en-US.
  22. Web site: Staff. Gephardt Daily. 2020-06-13. Lucin Fire in Box Elder County 80% contained, fire crews protect historic features. 2020-07-03. Gephardt Daily. en-US.
  23. Web site: utahfireadmin. Big Springs Fire in Tooele County. June 14, 2020 . 2020-07-01. en-US.
  24. Web site: Staff. Gephardt Daily. 2020-06-16. Update: Big Springs Fire, Lincoln Fire now 100% contained; Orchard Fire 50% contained. 2020-07-03. Gephardt Daily. en-US.
  25. Web site: Abel. Kevin. Rock Path Fires Update 6/30/2020. June 30, 2020 . 2020-07-01. en-US.
  26. Web site: Wildfire updates: Rock Path Fire 100% contained; Knolls Fire 97% contained. 2020-07-02. www.ksl.com. en.
  27. Web site: Lenkowski. Hannah. Antelope and Rock Path Update 6/26/2020 (prior to merge). June 26, 2020 . 2020-07-01. en-US.
  28. Web site: Canal Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System. 2020-07-01. inciweb.nwcg.gov.
  29. Web site: 2020-06-30. 'Canal Fire' jumps containment lines, scorches thousands of acres (containment escape info). 2020-07-01. KSTU. en.
  30. Web site: Howell. Nick. Wire Pass Fire update for Monday, June 29. June 30, 2020 . 2020-07-01. en-US.
  31. Web site: Kane County brush fire forces evacuation of The Wave and Buckskin trails. June 27, 2020 . 2020-07-01. en-US.
  32. Web site: Peak. Kari. Knolls Fire Update 7/2/2020. July 3, 2020 . 2020-07-05. en-US.
  33. Web site: Crews fully contain Knolls blaze as National Weather Service issues fire watch. 2020-07-14. The Salt Lake Tribune. en-US.
  34. Web site: 2020-07-04. Crews battle wildfire in Iron County, 837 acres. 2020-07-11. ABC4 Utah. en-US.
  35. Web site: Big Summit Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System. 2020-07-14. inciweb.nwcg.gov.
  36. Web site: Roberts. Alyssa. 2020-07-14. Fire sparked in Nevada forces evacuations in Iron County. 2020-07-15. KUTV.
  37. Web site: Abel. Kevin. Veyo West Fire – 7/18/20 (Final Release). July 19, 2020 . 2020-07-19. en-US.
  38. Web site: Abel. Kevin. Turkey Farm Road Fire – 7/19/20. July 20, 2020 . 2020-07-20. en-US.
  39. Web site: Abel. Kevin. Cottonwood Trail Fire – 7/20/20. July 20, 2020 . 2020-07-21. en-US.
  40. Web site: 2020-07-31. Campground Evacuated As Pine Hollow Fire Burns 8K Acres. 2020-08-01. KSLTV.com.
  41. Web site: Pine Hollow Fire near Kanab grows beyond 11,000 acres, moves into previous Wire Pass Fire area. August 2020 . 2020-08-02. en-US.
  42. Web site: Webb. Kaitlyn. Hollow Fire Fact Sheet. August 4, 2020 . 2020-08-04. en-US.
  43. Web site: Peak. Kari. Richard Mountain Fire Update 8/9/2020. August 10, 2020 . 2020-08-10. en-US.
  44. Web site: Richard Mountain Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System. 2020-09-02. inciweb.nwcg.gov.
  45. Web site: 2020-08-04. Wildfire that started in Wyoming burns across Utah border into Dagget County, officials say. 2020-08-04. ABC4 Utah. en-US.
  46. Web site: East Fork Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System. 2020-09-02. inciweb.nwcg.gov.
  47. Web site: 9.7.20 East Fork Update - InciWeb the Incident Information System. 2020-09-08. inciweb.nwcg.gov.
  48. Web site: Center Creek Trail Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System. 2020-09-09. inciweb.nwcg.gov.
  49. Web site: William Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System. 2020-09-10. inciweb.nwcg.gov.
  50. Web site: Locklear. McKenzie Stauffer, Michal. 2020-10-19. Over 3,000-acre fire burning in Utah County caused by police target shooting. 2020-11-01. KUTV.
  51. Web site: Hag Boundry Fire near Grantsville, Utah - Current Incident Information and Wildfire Map Fire, Weather & Avalanche Center. 2020-11-01. FireWeatherAvalanche.org. en-US.
  52. Web site: Snow Canyon Fire near Ivins, Utah - Current Incident Information and Wildfire Map Fire, Weather & Avalanche Center. 2020-11-14. FireWeatherAvalanche.org. en-US.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "2020 Utah wildfires".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.