2020 Utah wildfires
2020 Utah wildfires | |
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Date(s) | May 12 - November 7 |
Statistics[2][3] | |
Total fires | 1,547[1] |
Total area | 329,732 acres |
Impacts | |
Damage | >$103 million (suppression)[4] |
2020 Western U.S. wildfires |
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![]() Multiple wildfires burning near the Pacific coast of the U.S. on September 9, 2020 |
Largest wildfire by state
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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 August 7, 2023 (UTC) Live fire updates: https://utahfireinfo.gov/active-wildfires |
See also
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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 - ^ 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. - ^ 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. - ^ "Burn Permits and Fire Code | Utah DNR – FFSL (Forestry, Fire and State Lands)". ffsl.utah.gov. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
- ^ a b "East Fork Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- ^ Knox, Annie (December 10, 2020). "In Utah's 2020 wildfire season, humans sparked nearly 4 of 5 blazes". Deseret News. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
- ^ "The coronavirus pandemic is behind Utah's record number of human-caused wildfires, officials say". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Utah's Wildfire season: Why the 2020 season is off to a dangerous start". ABC4 Utah. June 24, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
- ^ "Dry spring concerns Utah hydrologists". KSTU. May 25, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Dangerous fire season expected in Utah". KSTU. May 27, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
- ^ Price, Virginia (May 19, 2020). "Saddle Fire – May 19, 2020". Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ "Officials: Saddle Fire 100% contained". ABC4 Utah. May 16, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ "'Anderson Junction Fire' near Toquerville is 100% contained". KSTU. May 19, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
- ^ Lenkowski, Hannah (June 2, 2020). "Tabby Canyon and North Stansbury Fires Update 6/01/2020". Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ Lenkowski, Hannah (June 3, 2020). "Tabby Canyon Fire and North Stansbury Fire Update 6/02/2020". Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ a b "4 wildfires in Box Elder County burned over 8,000 acres". ABC4 Utah. June 5, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
- ^ "Portion of Highway 6 closed due to fire near Goshen". ABC4 Utah. June 6, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
- ^ "Promontory Fire Grows To 1,000 Acres; Doppler Radar Protected". KSLTV.com. June 6, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
- ^ "Crews responding to a new fire near Promontory Point". ABC4 Utah. June 6, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ utahfireadmin (June 14, 2020). "Big Springs Fire in Tooele County". Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Abel, Kevin (June 30, 2020). "Rock Path Fires Update 6/30/2020". Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ "Wildfire updates: Rock Path Fire 100% contained; Knolls Fire 97% contained". www.ksl.com. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
- ^ Lenkowski, Hannah (June 26, 2020). "Antelope and Rock Path Update 6/26/2020 (prior to merge)". Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ "Canal Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ "'Canal Fire' jumps containment lines, scorches thousands of acres (containment escape info)". KSTU. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ Howell, Nick (June 30, 2020). "Wire Pass Fire update for Monday, June 29". Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ "Kane County brush fire forces evacuation of The Wave and Buckskin trails". Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ Peak, Kari (July 3, 2020). "Knolls Fire Update 7/2/2020". Retrieved July 5, 2020.
- ^ "Crews fully contain Knolls blaze as National Weather Service issues fire watch". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ^ "Crews battle wildfire in Iron County, 837 acres". ABC4 Utah. July 4, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
- ^ "Big Summit Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ^ Roberts, Alyssa (July 14, 2020). "Fire sparked in Nevada forces evacuations in Iron County". KUTV. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ Abel, Kevin (July 19, 2020). "Veyo West Fire – 7/18/20 (Final Release)". Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- ^ Abel, Kevin (July 20, 2020). "Turkey Farm Road Fire – 7/19/20". Retrieved July 20, 2020.
- ^ Abel, Kevin (July 20, 2020). "Cottonwood Trail Fire – 7/20/20". Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ "Campground Evacuated As Pine Hollow Fire Burns 8K Acres". KSLTV.com. July 31, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ "Pine Hollow Fire near Kanab grows beyond 11,000 acres, moves into previous Wire Pass Fire area". Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- ^ Webb, Kaitlyn (August 4, 2020). "Hollow Fire Fact Sheet". Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ^ Peak, Kari (August 10, 2020). "Richard Mountain Fire Update 8/9/2020". Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- ^ "Richard Mountain Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- ^ "Wildfire that started in Wyoming burns across Utah border into Dagget County, officials say". ABC4 Utah. August 4, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ^ a b "9.7.20 East Fork Update - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ "Center Creek Trail Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ^ "William Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ 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) - ^ "Hag Boundry Fire near Grantsville, Utah - Current Incident Information and Wildfire Map | Fire, Weather & Avalanche Center". FireWeatherAvalanche.org. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
- ^ "Snow Canyon Fire near Ivins, Utah - Current Incident Information and Wildfire Map | Fire, Weather & Avalanche Center". FireWeatherAvalanche.org. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
External links
- https://gacc.nifc.gov/gbcc/predictive/products/gbytd-byState.htm - GBCC Great Basin data
- https://utahfireinfo.gov/active-wildfires - Active wildfires in Utah
- https://gacc.nifc.gov/sacc/predictive/intelligence/NationalLargeIncidentYTDReport.pdf - Database for large incidents (wildfires, NIFC. Renews annually.)