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Utah Wildfire Season 2026: Fires and Smoke Threaten Communities
The Widemouth 2 Fire, ignited by lightning in late July, has burned more than 68,000 acres in Millard County and forced evacuations for the city of Fillmore and the towns of Kanosh and Meadow. The Utah Department of Corrections also moved 40 inmates from the Millard County Jail to a facility in Salt Lake City until conditions improve.
Statewide, more than 456,000 acres have burned across Utah this year, with a record 285,000 acres of woodland affected. Three separate fires—Widemouth 2, the Babylon fire and the Cottonwood fire—each exceeded 50,000 acres, a first in the state's history. Experts warn the extensive tree loss raises the risk of flash flooding.
Smoke from wildfires burning in the Pacific Northwest has drifted into northern Utah, prompting unhealthy‑for‑sensitive‑groups air‑quality alerts. The National Weather Service forecasts temperatures up to 10 °F above normal later in the week, increasing the potential for heat‑related illness. Health officials advise residents, especially those with heart or respiratory conditions, to limit outdoor activity and follow local air‑quality guidance.
Entities
Governor Spencer Cox · National Weather Service · Phil Dennison · Utah Department of Corrections · Widemouth 2 Fire
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Temperatures are expected to rise up to 10 °F above normal, increasing heat‑related illness risk. townlift.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Widemouth 2 Fire burned more than 68,000 acres by Monday. missoulacurrent.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Utah Department of Corrections evacuated 40 inmates from the Millard County Jail. missoulacurrent.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A record 285,000 acres of woodland have burned in Utah in the 2026 fire season. attheu.utah.edu
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Widemouth 2 Fire forced evacuations of Fillmore, Kanosh, and Meadow. missoulacurrent.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Smoke from Pacific Northwest wildfires created unhealthy air quality in northern Utah. townlift.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] More than 456,000 acres have burned across Utah this year. missoulacurrent.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Three fires each burned more than 50,000 acres, a first in Utah history. attheu.utah.edu