Deer Creek wildfire in San Juan County grows to more than 7,000 acres, evacuation orders in place

SALT LAKE CITY — Parts of La Sal in San Juan County were under evacuation Friday due to the nearby Deer Creek Fire, according to San Juan County officials and Utah Fire Info.

The fire had grown to more than 7,000 acres by Friday night, according to Utah Interagency Fire.

Also on Friday night, the agency said that 80 primary structures were threatened, 10 primary structures were damaged, and that five primary structures had been lost in the Deer Creek Fire.

On Friday afternoon, Kayli Guild with Utah Fire Info said approximately 250 people were evacuated from the area. Guild said “erratic winds” could impact the fire.

Two “primary homes” and two “secondary homes” were burned by the fire, and five outbuildings were burned, including a US Forest Service facility, according to Guild.

San Juan County announced Friday that evacuations were still in place for the area between Upper 2 Mile Road and the Colorado border, or within five miles of the fire.

Guild said approximately 20 homes were threatened by Friday’s flames.

Utah Fire Info said the new fire was initially estimated to be 50 acres in size and “actively running.” By Friday morning, it was estimated to be 4,000 acres with 0% containment.

On Friday, the American Red Cross of Utah said they have pre-positioned emergency shelter supplies near the Deer Creek Fire and that they had a team of disaster volunteers on standby to help if needed.

The Red Cross also said that, once the fire is contained, their volunteers will be in the city of La Sal to help those whose homes were damaged or lost by the fire.

In a Facebook post on Friday night, Utah Fire Info said crews spent the day focused on structure protection on the south and west sides of the fire and that “evacuations could expand if needed.”

According to a Facebook post from Utah Fire Info earlier on Friday, officials issued an alert for residents within five miles of the fire or Mountain Shadow Estates to evacuate. A cooling center was reportedly open at the La Sal Community Center.

According to a Facebook post from the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office Friday, the lower two miles of the area were shut down Friday, with access only permitted for fire and emergency personnel units.

“We understand this is a inconvenience to those that live in that area, but the fire crews are (active) and everyone’s safety is our top priority,” the sheriff’s office said.

By Friday night, Utah Interagency Fire said that 80 primary structures were threatened, 10 primary structures were damaged, and that five primary structures had been lost in the Deer Creek Fire.

La Sal is a small town in northeastern San Juan County and home to approximately 300 people. It’s southeast of Moab, near the Utah-Colorado border.

“Fire in La Sal on Deer Creek Road please leave the area if you are near this incident,” San Juan County wrote on Facebook. “If you have been displaced because of this and need a place to get out of the heat go to the Community Center in La Sal.”

The Community Center is next to the La Sal Elementary School on state Route 46.

The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office said Old Lasal Road was closed indefinitely. SR 46 is also closed at mile point 14, which is three miles east of La Sal.

All Directions SR 46 Closed
at MP 14 (3 miles east of La Sal) San Juan Co.
Use Alt Route
For updates: https://t.co/jaVMw7e9Jm

— UDOT Traffic (@UDOTTRAFFIC) July 11, 2025

“Please stay clear of restricted areas and follow all emergency personnel instructions. Your safety is our top priority,” the sheriff’s office said.

The cause of the fire was not yet known.

Contributing: Carlysle Price, KSL TV

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Editor’s note: It was previously reported that the entire town of La Sal was under evacuation order. San Juan County later clarified that it had erroneously sent the evacuation notice to the entire town, but only a section of it was actually under that order.

This is an ongoing news story. It will be updated.