2023 Utah wildfires

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2023 Utah wildfires
Statistics [1]
Total fires808
Total area18,061 acres (7,309 ha; 73.09 km2)
2024  →

A series of wildfires burned throughout the U.S. state of Utah during 2023.

Contents

Background

While the typical wildfire season in Utah varies, most fires occur in between July and October. [2] Fire conditions can heavily depend on monsoons that last from late June to September. Dry monsoons can allow fires to start and spread easier, while wet ones can cause fire relief. Additionally, hot temperatures and overall dry conditions play a large role. [3]

Summary

Concerns for a destructive fire season began after Utah's snowpack reached 30 inches (760 mm) and began melting in spring. [4] However, the start of fire season was late due to high fuel moistures from the snowpack. The El Niño prolonged cool, moist conditions from May through early July. Hot and dry conditions minimally increased fire activity in late July and early August, but was still well below average. [1] Precipitation increased later in August (when 60% of Utah's summer precipitation occurred that year), coming when most vegetation began drying up. Additionally, the temperature that season was the lowest in Utah since 2014, 1.5 °F above the 20th century average. [4] Heavy rains in September effectively brought an end to fire season. [1]

List of wildfires

The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), or produced significant structural damage or casualties.

NameCountyAcresStart dateContainment Date [a] NotesRef
I70 MM 270 Grand 1,802July 102023Caused by a rollover crash on Interstate 70. Burned near the Utah/Colorado border and closed Interstate 70. Was 89% contained on July 11. [6] [7]
Rocky Tooele 1,300July 21July 22Unknown cause. Burned near Ibapah. [8]
Thompson Ridge Beaver 7,253August 4September 7Lightning-caused. Burned 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Beaver. [9]
Light House Canyon Emery 2,037August 162023Lightning-caused. Burned 14 miles (23 km) southeast of East Carbon. Was 85% contained on November 6. [10]
Box Sevier 2,038September 192023Lightning-caused. Burned 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Emery. Due to low fire risk from heavy precipitation and the lateness into the season, firefighters allowed to burn for ecosystem restoration. [11] [12]
2023 Utah wildfires
Perimeters of 2023 Utah wildfires with markers(map data)

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Containment means that fire crews have established and secured control lines around the fire's perimeter. These lines are artificial barriers, like trenches or cleared vegetation, designed to stop the fire's spread, or natural barriers like rivers. Containment reflects progress in managing the fire but does not necessarily mean the fire is starved of fuel, under control, or put out. [5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Utah Wildfire Annual Report 2023" (PDF). ffsl.utah.gov. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  2. ↑ Lee, Jasen. "Longer wildfire season means more bad air days". attheu.utah.edu. University of Utah. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  3. ↑ Small, Adam (June 21, 2024). "Utah sees busy start to 2024 wildfire season, draws comparison to record-breaking year". KSL News Radio. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Williams, Carter (October 26, 2023). "'Utahns were vigilant': How Utah's 2023 wildfire season became a smashing success". www.ksl.com. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  5. ↑ "What containment and other wildfire related terms mean". Los Angeles: KCAL-TV. September 12, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  6. ↑ "I70 MM 270 - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.usatoday.com. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  7. ↑ Tavss, Jeff (July 11, 2023). "I-70 fire in eastern Utah grows to nearly 1,800 acres". KSTU . Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  8. ↑ Neugebauer, Cimaron; Houck, Michael (July 22, 2023). "Rocky Fire in Tooele County 100% contained, spread to over 1,300 acres". KSL-TV . Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Thompson Ridge - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.galesburg.com. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Light House Canyon - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.statesmanjournal.com. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Box - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.oklahoman.com. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Box Fire Map". Watch Duty . Retrieved August 13, 2025.
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