Monroe Canyon Fire continues to grow as cause remains unknown
Jul 26, 2025, 6:35 PM | Updated: Jul 29, 2025, 9:53 am
The Monroe Fire is seen from Scipio on Saturday, July 26, 2026. (Todd Quarnberg)
(Todd Quarnberg)
SALT LAKE CITY — The U.S. Forest Service reported Saturday that the Monroe Canyon Fire burning in Sevier and Piute Counties grew significantly the day before, and officials warned that hot and dry weather would lead to extreme fire activity over the weekend.
By Tuesday morning, officials said the fire was just shy of 32,000 acres and at 16% containment, although heavy smoke was making it difficult to accurately map acreage.
There were reportedly 961 people working on the fire, which was first reported on July 13. The cause was still under investigation.
The extent of the Monroe Canyon Fire is shown on Saturday, July 26, 2025. (U.S. Forest Service)
“Evacuation notices were issued for all residences within the current closure area, including Magleby, Monroe Meadows, Cove Mountain, Elk Country Cabins, Long Flat, Big Lake, and the Porters area,” the Forest Service said.
The fire reportedly made a five-mile run to the north on Friday, causing firefighters to withdraw from areas they had been working on protecting. The Forest Service said firefighters observed 60 mph winds in the area.
“The safety of our firefighters and the public remains our top priority. We want everyone to make it home safely,” said Incident Commander Brett Waters.
Monroe Canyon Fire time-lapse videos today, Saturday, July 26, 2025 from Incident Command Post at Greenwich #monroecanyonfire #FireYear2025 pic.twitter.com/Hp2sAMLTMV
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) July 27, 2025
On Saturday, fire crews were said to be assessing areas affected by Friday night’s growth, as well as looking out for spot fires starting ahead of the main wildfire.
The Forest Service said that fuels around the fire have the potential to rapidly increase fire growth.
“The Monroe Canyon Fire is a full suppression fire with an emphasis on protecting communities and utilizing tactics that have the highest probability of success, while ensuring firefighter and public safety,” the Forest Service said.
Utah Fire Info said there was a community meeting about the wildfire at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Sorensen Administration Building at Snow College. You can attend virtually here.
