# 2020 Utah wildfires

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. 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. In total, the suppression costs for the fires amounted to at least $103 million (2020 USD).
Of the 1,547 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. The significant rise in human-caused fires was attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, as it forced recreation outside at higher rates.

## 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. Throughout the early season, record-breaking numbers of fires (especially human-caused) exceeded previous season equivalents. This, coupled with an abnormally hot and dry spring led fire officials, meteorologists, and hydrologists to believe that the season would be unusually active.

## 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 |
| 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. |
| Anderson Junction | Washington | 786 | May 18 | May 19 | Caused by vehicle dragging chains, 3 structures destroyed. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Bar H | Box Elder | 1,352 | June 3 | June 4 | Caused by lightning. |
| Matlin | Box Elder | 6,292 | June 3 | June 4 | Caused by lightning. |
| Elberta | Utah | 1,977 | June 5 | June 8 | Human-caused. |
| Promontory | Weber | 1,000 | June 6 | June 8 | Caused by lightning. |
| Lucin | Box Elder | 780 | June 12 | June 12 | Human-caused, partially burned a historic trestle from the Transcontinental Railroad Grade. |
| Big Springs | Tooele | 2,912 | June 14 | June 16 | Human-caused, 11 structures destroyed. |
| Rock Path | Millard, Beaver | 20,941 | June 25 | July 1 | Caused by lightning. Merged with Antelope Fire on June 27 at 6,000+ acres. |
| Antelope (Rock Path) | Millard, Beaver | 3,000+ | June 25 | July 1 | Caused by lightning. Merged with Rock Path Fire, lost its name. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Lund | Iron | 837 | July 4 | July 4 | Human-caused, 1 structure and 2 cars destroyed. |
| 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. |
| Veyo West | Washington | 2,618 | July 13 | July 23 | Human-caused, 7 structures destroyed. |
| Turkey Farm Road | Washington | 11,993 | July 13 | July 19 | Caused by fireworks, 1 structure destroyed. |
| Howell Peak | Millard | 1,885 | July 19 | August 6 | |
| Cottonwood Trail | Washington | 1,631 | July 19 | July 21 | Caused by a blown tire. |
| Dennis Hill | Box Elder | 2,658 | July 20 | July 26 | Human-caused. |
| 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. |
| Hollow | Sanpete, Utah | 1,416 | July 31 | August 3 | Human-caused, destroyed 2 structures. |
| Richard Mountain | Daggett, Sweetwater | 7,633 | August 3 | August 11 | Started in Wyoming, and crossed into Utah on the same day. |
| 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. |
| Greenville | Beaver | 1,103 | August 22 | August 23 | Caused by lightning. |
| Gray Hill | Millard | 6,845 | August 23 | August 24 | Caused by lightning. |
| Center Creek Trail | Duchesne | 1,274 | August 25 | October 13 | Caused by lightning. |
| 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. |
| William | Utah, Juab | 5,832 | September 6 | November 9 | Caused by target shooting. Started in Utah County, and spread south into Juab County. |
| White Sage | Tooele | 6,000 | September 18 | September 21 | Human-caused, started in the Dugway Proving Ground. |
| Veyo Road | Washington | 2,262 | September 27 | September 30 | Human-caused. |
| Range | Utah | 3,496 | October 17 | November 11 | Caused by police target shooting. |
| Fire Canyon | Summit | 1,670 | October 18 | October 21 | Human-caused. |
| 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. |
| Snow Canyon | Washington | 1,000 | November 6 | November 7 | Human-caused. |
| As of October 23, 2024 (UTC) Live fire updates: https://utahfireinfo.gov/active-wildfires |||||||