2020 Utah wildfires

2020 Utah wildfires
Date(s)May 12 - November 7
Statistics[2][3]
Total fires1,547[1]
Total area329,732 acres
Impacts
Damage>$103 million (suppression)[4]
2020 Western U.S. wildfires
Multiple wildfires burning near the Pacific coast of the U.S. on September 9, 2020
Affected states
Background
Largest wildfire by state
  • Arizona - Bush (193,455 acres)
  • California - August Complex (1,032,648 acres)
  • Colorado - Cameron Peak (208,913 acres)
  • Nevada - Meadow Valley (59,265 acres)
  • New Mexico - Cub (25,950 acres)
  • Oregon - Santiam (402,274 acres)
  • Utah - East Fork (89,765 acres)
  • Washington - Pearl Hill (223,730 acres)

The 2020 Utah wildfire season was a series of prominent wildfires throughout the state of Utah, lasting from June 1 through October 30, as defined by state law.[5] Part of the 2020 Western United States wildfire season, Utah saw record-breaking numbers of human-caused fires. The largest fire of the season, the East Fork Fire, burned an area of 89,568 acres.[6] In total, the suppression costs for the fires amounted to at least $103 million (2020 USD).[4]

Of the 1,547[1] fires in Utah during 2020, 1,202 (78%) were human-caused, surpassing 2015's record of 937. These fires accounted for nearly 100,000 of the 329,732 total acres burned during this season.[7] The significant rise in human-caused fires was attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, as it forced recreation outside at higher rates.[8]

Background

On May 27, Utah observed 237 wildfires (of which 95% were human-caused); a near fourfold increase compared to the previous season's 67 wildfires recorded at that same date.[9] Throughout the early season, record-breaking numbers of fires (especially human-caused) exceeded previous season equivalents.[10] This, coupled with an abnormally hot and dry spring[11][12] led fire officials, meteorologists, and hydrologists to believe that the season would be unusually active.[9][13]

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.

Name County Acres Start date Containment date Notes Ref
Saddle Wasatch 683 May 12 May 22 A juvenile was taken into custody on alleged connection to the Saddle Fire, and 3 other fires in the local area. [4][14][15]
Anderson Junction Washington 786 May 18 May 19 Caused by vehicle dragging chains, 3 structures destroyed. [4][16]
Tabby Canyon Tooele 13,378.1 May 30 June 2 Caused by exploding target. Merged with North Stansbury Fire on June 1 at 6,848.8 acres. [4][17]
North Stansbury (Tabby Canyon) Tooele 5,336.9 June 1 June 2 Caused by heavy equipment use. Merged with Tabby Canyon Fire, lost its name. [4][18]
Bar H Box Elder 1,352 June 3 June 4 Caused by lightning. [4][19]
Matlin Box Elder 6,292 June 3 June 4 Caused by lightning. [4][19]
Elberta Utah 1,977 June 5 June 8 Human-caused. [4][20]
Promontory Weber 1,000 June 6 June 8 Caused by lightning. [4][21][22]
Lucin Box Elder 780 June 12 June 12 Human-caused, partially burned a historic trestle from the Transcontinental Railroad Grade. [4][23]
Big Springs Tooele 2,912 June 14 June 16 Human-caused, 11 structures destroyed. [4][24][25]
Rock Path Millard, Beaver 20,941 June 25 July 1 Caused by lightning. Merged with Antelope Fire on June 27 at 6,000+ acres. [4][26][27]
Antelope (Rock Path) Millard, Beaver 3,000+ June 25 July 1 Caused by lightning. Merged with Rock Path Fire, lost its name. [4][26][28]
Canal Millard, Juab 78,065 June 27 July 13 Caused by lightning. 100% contained on June 27 at 450 acres, escaped containment on June 28 due to strong winds. Destroyed 34 structures. [4][29][30]
Wire Pass Kane 1,588 June 26 July 2 Caused by lightning. Started north of the Utah-Arizona border above the Mangum Fire within relatively close proximity. [4][31][32]
Knolls Utah 12,979 June 28 July 3 Human-caused. 3,100+ homes evacuated in Saratoga Springs, an estimated 13,000+ people. 1 home destroyed, 12 damaged. [4][33][34]
Lund Iron 837 July 4 July 4 Human-caused, 1 structure and 2 cars destroyed. [4][35]
Big Summit Iron, Lincoln 8,461 July 13 July 21 Started near Panaca, Nevada, and crossed into Utah on July 14. Evacuations in Hamlin Valley, destroyed 1 structure. [4][36][37]
Veyo West Washington 2,618 July 13 July 23 Human-caused, 7 structures destroyed. [4][38]
Turkey Farm Road Washington 11,993 July 13 July 19 Caused by fireworks, 1 structure destroyed. [4][39]
Howell Peak Millard 1,885 July 19 August 6 [4]
Cottonwood Trail Washington 1,631 July 19 July 21 Caused by a blown tire. [4][40]
Dennis Hill Box Elder 2,658 July 20 July 26 Human-caused. [4]
Pine Hollow Kane, Coconino 11,405 July 29 August 5 Caused by lightning one mile south of the Utah-Arizona border, and crossed into Utah. It entered the perimeter of the Wire Pass fire that burned a month prior. [4][41][42]
Hollow Sanpete, Utah 1,416 July 31 August 3 Human-caused, destroyed 2 structures. [4][43]
Richard Mountain Daggett, Sweetwater 7,633 August 3 August 11 Started in Wyoming, and crossed into Utah on the same day. [4][44][45][46]
East Fork Duchesne 89,765 August 21 November 5 Caused by lightning. Merged with the Phinney Lake fire at 10,040 acres. It destroyed 11 structures. [4][6][47]
Greenville Beaver 1,103 August 22 August 23 Caused by lightning. [4]
Gray Hill Millard 6,845 August 23 August 24 Caused by lightning. [4]
Center Creek Trail Duchesne 1,274 August 25 October 13 Caused by lightning. [4][48]
Phinney Lake (East Fork) Duchesne 4,469 August 30 November 5 Caused by lightning. Started north of the East Fork fire and merged with it on September 7, losing its name. [4][47]
William Utah, Juab 5,832 September 6 November 9 Caused by target shooting. Started in Utah County, and spread south into Juab County. [4][49]
White Sage Tooele 6,000 September 18 September 21 Human-caused, started in the Dugway Proving Ground. [4]
Veyo Road Washington 2,262 September 27 September 30 Human-caused. [4]
Range Utah 3,496 October 17 November 11 Caused by police target shooting. [4][50]
Fire Canyon Summit 1,670 October 18 October 21 Human-caused. [4]
Hag Boundry Box Elder 2,727 October 29 October 29 Started in the Utah Test and Training Range's northern segment near the Great Salt Lake. [4][51]
Snow Canyon Washington 1,000 November 6 November 7 Human-caused. [4][52]
As of October 23, 2024 (UTC)

Live fire updates: https://utahfireinfo.gov/active-wildfires

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Wildfire season recap: 2020 produced most human-caused fires on record in Utah, $60M in costs". www.ksl.com. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  2. ^ https://gacc.nifc.gov/gbcc/predictive/products/gbytd-byState.htm
    *This resource is annually updated, therefore its data doesn't represent this article's fires. For the archived PDF, see Great Basin Coordination Center Year-To-Date Report of Fires and Acres By State & Agency for 2020
  3. ^ https://gacc.nifc.gov/sacc/predictive/intelligence/NationalYTDbyStateandAgency.pdf
    *This resource is annually updated, therefore its data doesn't represent this article's fires. For the archived PDF, see National Year-to-Date Report on Fires and Acres Burned by State and Agency for 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am https://gacc.nifc.gov/sacc/predictive/intelligence/NationalLargeIncidentYTDReport.pdf
    *This resource is annually updated, therefore its data doesn't represent this article's fires. For the archived PDF, see National Large Incident Year-to-Date Report for 2020.
  5. ^ "Burn Permits and Fire Code | Utah DNR – FFSL (Forestry, Fire and State Lands)". ffsl.utah.gov. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  6. ^ a b "East Fork Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  7. ^ Knox, Annie (December 10, 2020). "In Utah's 2020 wildfire season, humans sparked nearly 4 of 5 blazes". Deseret News. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  8. ^ "The coronavirus pandemic is behind Utah's record number of human-caused wildfires, officials say". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Utah is off to a scary start for wildfire season due to a dry spring and careless campers". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  10. ^ "Utah's Wildfire season: Why the 2020 season is off to a dangerous start". ABC4 Utah. June 24, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  11. ^ "Dry spring concerns Utah hydrologists". KSTU. May 25, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  12. ^ Dunphey, Kyle (May 16, 2020). "A dry spring and global pandemic has Utah's wildland firefighters bracing for an 'above normal' season". Deseret News. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  13. ^ "Dangerous fire season expected in Utah". KSTU. May 27, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  14. ^ Price, Virginia (May 19, 2020). "Saddle Fire – May 19, 2020". Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  15. ^ "Officials: Saddle Fire 100% contained". ABC4 Utah. May 16, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  16. ^ "'Anderson Junction Fire' near Toquerville is 100% contained". KSTU. May 19, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  17. ^ Lenkowski, Hannah (June 2, 2020). "Tabby Canyon and North Stansbury Fires Update 6/01/2020". Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  18. ^ Lenkowski, Hannah (June 3, 2020). "Tabby Canyon Fire and North Stansbury Fire Update 6/02/2020". Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  19. ^ a b "4 wildfires in Box Elder County burned over 8,000 acres". ABC4 Utah. June 5, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  20. ^ "Portion of Highway 6 closed due to fire near Goshen". ABC4 Utah. June 6, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  21. ^ "Promontory Fire Grows To 1,000 Acres; Doppler Radar Protected". KSLTV.com. June 6, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  22. ^ "Crews responding to a new fire near Promontory Point". ABC4 Utah. June 6, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  23. ^ Staff, Gephardt Daily (June 13, 2020). "Lucin Fire in Box Elder County 80% contained, fire crews protect historic features". Gephardt Daily. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  24. ^ utahfireadmin (June 14, 2020). "Big Springs Fire in Tooele County". Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  25. ^ Staff, Gephardt Daily (June 16, 2020). "Update: Big Springs Fire, Lincoln Fire now 100% contained; Orchard Fire 50% contained". Gephardt Daily. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  26. ^ a b Abel, Kevin (June 30, 2020). "Rock Path Fires Update 6/30/2020". Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  27. ^ "Wildfire updates: Rock Path Fire 100% contained; Knolls Fire 97% contained". www.ksl.com. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  28. ^ Lenkowski, Hannah (June 26, 2020). "Antelope and Rock Path Update 6/26/2020 (prior to merge)". Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  29. ^ "Canal Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  30. ^ "'Canal Fire' jumps containment lines, scorches thousands of acres (containment escape info)". KSTU. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  31. ^ Howell, Nick (June 30, 2020). "Wire Pass Fire update for Monday, June 29". Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  32. ^ "Kane County brush fire forces evacuation of The Wave and Buckskin trails". June 27, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  33. ^ Peak, Kari (July 3, 2020). "Knolls Fire Update 7/2/2020". Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  34. ^ "Crews fully contain Knolls blaze as National Weather Service issues fire watch". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  35. ^ "Crews battle wildfire in Iron County, 837 acres". ABC4 Utah. July 4, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  36. ^ "Big Summit Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  37. ^ Roberts, Alyssa (July 14, 2020). "Fire sparked in Nevada forces evacuations in Iron County". KUTV. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  38. ^ Abel, Kevin (July 19, 2020). "Veyo West Fire – 7/18/20 (Final Release)". Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  39. ^ Abel, Kevin (July 20, 2020). "Turkey Farm Road Fire – 7/19/20". Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  40. ^ Abel, Kevin (July 20, 2020). "Cottonwood Trail Fire – 7/20/20". Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  41. ^ "Campground Evacuated As Pine Hollow Fire Burns 8K Acres". KSLTV.com. July 31, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  42. ^ "Pine Hollow Fire near Kanab grows beyond 11,000 acres, moves into previous Wire Pass Fire area". August 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  43. ^ Webb, Kaitlyn (August 4, 2020). "Hollow Fire Fact Sheet". Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  44. ^ Peak, Kari (August 10, 2020). "Richard Mountain Fire Update 8/9/2020". Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  45. ^ "Richard Mountain Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  46. ^ "Wildfire that started in Wyoming burns across Utah border into Dagget County, officials say". ABC4 Utah. August 4, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  47. ^ a b "9.7.20 East Fork Update - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  48. ^ "Center Creek Trail Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  49. ^ "William Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  50. ^ Locklear, McKenzie Stauffer, Michal (October 19, 2020). "Over 3,000-acre fire burning in Utah County caused by police target shooting". KUTV. Retrieved November 1, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  51. ^ "Hag Boundry Fire near Grantsville, Utah - Current Incident Information and Wildfire Map | Fire, Weather & Avalanche Center". FireWeatherAvalanche.org. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  52. ^ "Snow Canyon Fire near Ivins, Utah - Current Incident Information and Wildfire Map | Fire, Weather & Avalanche Center". FireWeatherAvalanche.org. Retrieved November 14, 2020.