2024 Utah wildfires

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2024 Utah wildfires
Statistics [1]
Total fires1,244
Total area90,660 acres (36,690 ha)
Season
2025  →

The 2024 Utah wildfire season was a series of wildfires that burned throughout the U.S. state of Utah during 2024.

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

While above average snow packs had diminished fire activity in previous years (in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 winters), the melting snow led to growth of plants that were ideal for fire conditions. The hot and dry conditions dried out the abundant vegetation, a prime fuel for fires. There were above normal temperatures throughout Utah, including Salt Lake City seeing its first 100 degrees day three weeks before average. Warmth and dryness continued into August. [4] [5] A late and below-average monsoon contributed to drought and fire conditions. [6] Unusually dry conditions in June and July created critical fire conditions. Thus, several fires were ignited during this period. [1] All these conditions contributed to 538 wildfires burning approximately 40,000 acres (16,000 ha) by mid-July compared to 808 wildfires total in 2023 that burned 18,061 acres (7,309 ha). [7]

The monsoon did not arrive until early August, but still provided a brief break in fire activity. Despite this, hot, dry, and windy weather returned in September and lasted until mid-October, causing an increased number of wildfires. Many large fires continued until the end of October when autumn storms brought precipitation throughout the state, essentially bringing an end to the wildfire 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/Containment DateNotesRef
Little Twist Beaver 5,367May 13August 22Firefighter combating the fire seriously injured by falling snag [8] [9]
Silver King Piute 18,222July 5August 1Ignited by lightning roughly 3 miles (4.8 km) away from Marysvale [10] [11]
Deer Springs Kane 11,765.77July 7July 30Burned nearly 9,000 acres (3,600 ha) of pinyon-juniper in first 24 hours [12] [13]
Boulter Tooele 2,243July 7August 30Human-caused. Evacuations issued for Vernon and Eureka [14] [15]
Hag Box Elder 3,610July 31August 1 [16]
Dry Fork Rich 1,340August 6August 12Ranchers and livestock evacuated [17] [18]
Prairie Grand 1,921September 16September 18Ignited by lightning near the southeast Colorado border [19] [20]
Yellow Lake Wasatch 33,041September 28November 5Burned 10 miles (16 km) south of Francis and destroyed eight log decks. Caused by improper use of logging equipment. [21] [22] [23]
2024 Utah wildfires
Perimeters of 2024 Utah wildfires (map data)

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Utah Wildfire Annual Report" (PDF). ffsl.utah.gov. Retrieved April 24, 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. ↑ Barnhart, Torian (June 11, 2024). "Conditions leading into Utah's fire season expected to parallel previous destructive years". The Park Record. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  5. ↑ Dunphey, Kyle (June 11, 2024). "'Take this seriously': Why this summer has Utah fire officials concerned". Utah News Dispatch . Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  6. ↑ "North American Monsoon Drought Status Update". drought.gov. National Integrated Drought Information System. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  7. ↑ Gray, Abigail (July 17, 2024). "Utah's raging wildfire season is different this year. Here's why". The Salt Lake Tribune . Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Little Twist Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Little Twist Fire Tree Strike". lessons.wildfire.gov. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Silver King Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Silver King Fire Information". InciWeb. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Deer Springs Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Deer Springs Fire Update: GSENM announces reopening of road, area closures". blm.gov. Bureau of Land Management . Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Boulter Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  15. ↑ Culbertson, Mary (August 25, 2024). "Human-ignited Boulter Fire blazes through 2,300 acres in 24 hours". KSL-TV. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  16. ↑ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Dry Fork Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  18. ↑ Brugger, Megan (August 6, 2024). "Livestock being relocated as Dry Fork Fire nears 400 acres in Rich Co". KUTV . CBS . Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  19. ↑ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  20. ↑ Brugger, Megan (September 16, 2024). "Winds helping lightning-caused Prairie Fire grow on Utah, Colorado border". KUTV. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Yellow Lake Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Yellow Lake Fire Update 10-12-2024". InciWeb. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  23. ↑ Jewkes, MJ (May 17, 2025). "Logger reveals origins of Yellow Lake Fire". KTVX . Retrieved May 17, 2025.
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