Dry winter raises wildfire concerns, Utah fire chiefs warn
May 4, 2026, 8:38 PM
SALT LAKE CITY — A dry winter across Utah is raising concerns about wildfire danger earlier than usual this year.
Fire officials said below-average snowpack has led to more dry vegetation on the ground, increasing the risk for fires, even as parts of the state still appear green.
“Even though we still see a lot of green in Utah, including here at Memory Grove in Salt Lake City, it’s already drying out fast,” fire managers said Monday.
Foliage at Memory Grove is pictured on May 4, 2026. (Zach Pope, KSL)
Because of those conditions, fire chiefs from four Salt Lake County agencies: Salt Lake City Fire Department, Unified Fire Authority, Sandy Fire Department and Draper Fire Department, held a joint news conference Monday afternoon to warn the public and stress the importance of prevention.
They said wildfire season is already underway.
“It’s May 4, and we are in wildfire season, which means there is no better time to begin preparing than right now,” Salt Lake City Fire Chief Karl Lieb said.
According to the chiefs, about 70% of wildfires in Utah last year were human-caused. That means most could have been prevented.
That number is an increase from previous years, despite ongoing education efforts from Utah Fire Info and the Utah State Fire Marshal’s Office.
“I don’t know if it’s the population. I don’t know if it’s ignorance, and I don’t mean that disrespectfully because we’re all in this together,” Sandy Fire Chief Ryan McConaghie said. “The vegetation is dry and everything is just ready to go. It never matted down under thick blankets of snow. It’s standing up and drying out very quickly. Just one spark and it can take off.”
Fire officials say common causes include dragging trailer chains, using equipment such as grinders, mowers or welders, improperly discarded cigarettes and even parking on dry grass.
They emphasized that it doesn’t take much to start a wildfire, especially under current conditions.
“When vegetation is dry, our grasses, shrubs and trees become highly flammable. Add into that strong winds, and a fire can spread rapidly,” Draper Fire Chief Clint Smith said.
The fire chiefs said their message is focused on prevention and awareness.
While it is a warning often shared this time of year, they said the conditions in 2026 make the risk more concerning than usual.
“The last little bit of moisture in the past couple of weeks have helped, but it has not put us back to where we need to be,” Unified Fire Authority Chief Dominic Burchett said. “It’s going to be a rough year.”
Related: Fire crews fight ‘human-caused’ fire near Nephi
