2026 lining up to be one of the worst years for wildfire damage in Utah
Aug 3, 2026, 6:42 PM | Updated: 6:43 pm
Image of the Widemouth 2 fire burning in the Fishlake National Forest in Millard County, not far from Fillmore, Utah. The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands said 2026 has become the second-worst year for wildfire damage in Utah history. (U.S. Forest Service)
(U.S. Forest Service)
SALT LAKE CITY — With updated acreage from the Widemouth 2 Fire now available, The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands said 2026 has become the second-worst year for wildfire damage in Utah history.
Here’s how the top five looks right now:
- 2007: 629,212 acres burned
- 2026: 455,471 acres (at the time of publication)
- 2018: 438,983 acres
- 2012: 415,267 acres
- 2020: 329,735 acres
Kayli Guild with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands said acreage isn’t the only thing making this fire season one of the worst ones we’ve ever had.
Related: Gov. Cox cautions against ‘careless action’ as Utah’s wildfire preparedness level rises
It’s also how extreme and destructive the fires are and have been, and what one spark is capable of doing in Utah’s existing conditions.
“More than likely, you’re going to have a fire. And it could become catastrophic in a manner of minutes,” Guild said.
Guild said that in previous years, only portions of the state would see these extreme conditions. But this year it’s different, it’s the entire state.
How Utah residents can help
The situation is potentially critical. Guild said if the state and residents don’t take steps to limit human-caused fires over the next couple of months, 2026 could unseat 2007.
“We can’t control mother nature. (For example) lightning is going to happen. But what we can do is do our part, that’s where the prevention piece comes in with Fire Sense.”
She’s speaking of Utah’s tips for wildfire prevention, which include:
- Dousing and stirring your campfire, checking for heat, and repeating.
- Rotating the tires on your vehicle to avoid worn wheel bearings (which can cause create intense mechanical friction).
- Keeping your car’s vehicle maintenance up to-date.
- And if target shooting, keep hot shells away from dry vegetation.
Guild says right now conditions are so bad one spark could become a catastrophic wildfire in a matter of minutes.
Contributing | Simone Seikaly
