Bonneville Fire slows but weather could change conditions
Jun 22, 2026, 11:17 AM | Updated: 4:39 pm
An Erickson Aero Tanker drops fire retardants on the Bonneville Fire Above the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Sunday. (Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News)
(Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — A human-caused fire in Salt Lake City remained at 566 acres Monday after Salt Lake City firefighters asked residents nearby on Sunday to prepare to evacuate in case the fire grew closer to residents.
Firefighters lifted the READY status for the Arlington Hills neighborhood, meaning residents are ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice. It was no longer a threat as of Monday afternoon.
Despite the smoke in the air along the Wasatch Front, crews on #BonnevilleFire are making great progress. A mapping flight estimated acreage at 566, but that has not yet been ground truthed by crews or GIS. The acreage and containment will be updated later today when calculated.… pic.twitter.com/8Nmw94pUdK
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) June 22, 2026
The fire, located above the University of Utah, was 5% contained, and Utah Fire Info said flames had slowed down after starting on Saturday. At a press conference on Monday, Salt Lake City Fire said containment is likely to increase as the day goes on.
“Fire quieted overnight, as clouds and humidity moved into the area,” the Utah Fire Info said in a Facebook post. “While no rain fell, the moisture caused a decrease in fire behavior and (the) night shift saw little activity throughout the evening.”
Crews took positions against the fire both on the ground and in the air, keeping the fire within a set perimeter and firefighters were ready to continue working on the fire throughout Monday.
Although the fire had slowed, Utah Fire Info said flames were likely to pick up again due to weather conditions.
“Today will be a hot, dry with temperatures in the 90s and very low humidity,” the Utah Fire Info Facebook post on Monday states. “Once the sun hits the fire, it likely will pick up activity again with the heat.”
Firefighters added that it was likely winds would also affect the fire in the afternoon, while hazards like rocks, steep terrain and even rattlesnakes had the potential to get in firefighters’ way. At this time, SLCFD hasn’t reported any injuries from this fire.
Utah Fire Info said nearby trails were still closed and asked people not to fly drones near the fire after a drone forced an aircraft to land while it was fighting the fire.
