Wildfire & smoke
Get ready to leave fast, and get ready to breathe clean air at home when smoke rolls in.
Wildfire threatens homes where neighborhoods meet open land, and smoke can blanket the whole state even from distant fires. The core moves: a go-bag and evacuation plan, a home that resists embers, and a clean-air room for smoky days.
Why it matters in Utah
- By June 25, 2026, Utah had 354 wildfires burning 141,743 acres, and human activities caused at least 75% of that season's fires to that point. Governor's Office (opens source in a new tab)
- In 2024, 55% of Utah wildfires were human-caused. Utah FFSL (opens source in a new tab)
- Research on homes lost in wildfires points to embers and small flames as the main way most homes ignite. Embers can travel more than a mile. NFPA Firewise (opens source in a new tab)
- As more people live near undeveloped land, wildfire risk continues to grow. Be Ready Utah (opens source in a new tab)
- In June 2026, Rocky Mountain Power turned off power to about 7,735 customers in southern Utah in a Public Safety Power Shutoff to reduce fire risk. Rocky Mountain Power (opens source in a new tab)
Who's most affected
- Homes on foothills, benches, canyons, and rural rangeland (the wildland-urban interface). Be Ready Utah (opens source in a new tab)
- People with asthma, COPD, heart disease, pregnancy, older adults, and children, during smoke events. EPA (opens source in a new tab)
- People without a car, with mobility limits, or with large animals, who need more time to evacuate. Ready.gov (opens source in a new tab)
What to do
1 Before
- Have several ways to receive alerts: sign up for community alerts and know about Wireless Emergency Alerts. Ready.gov (opens source in a new tab)
- Keep supplies in a go-bag or car trunk, make an evacuation plan with more than one route, and keep your vehicle's fuel tank at least half full. Ready.gov (opens source in a new tab) Be Ready Utah (opens source in a new tab)
- Start with the Immediate Zone (0 to 5 feet): clean roofs and gutters, screen vents with 1/8-inch metal mesh, and move mulch, firewood, and anything that burns away from walls. NFPA Firewise (opens source in a new tab)
- In the Intermediate Zone (5 to 30 feet): keep grass mowed to about 4 inches, remove ladder fuels, and space trees. NFPA Firewise (opens source in a new tab)
- Set up a clean-air room: a portable HEPA air cleaner sized for the room, or a DIY box-fan filter with a MERV 13 filter. EPA (opens source in a new tab) EPA (opens source in a new tab)
- If your HVAC can take it, use a MERV 13 or higher filter. EPA (opens source in a new tab)
- Use Fire Sense: put campfires dead out (douse, stir, repeat until cool to the touch). Be Ready Utah (opens source in a new tab)
2 During
- Evacuate immediately if authorities tell you to. Ready.gov (opens source in a new tab)
- If trapped, call 911 and give your location; emergency response may be delayed. Ready.gov (opens source in a new tab)
- In smoke: stay inside, close windows, run your air cleaner on high in your clean-air room, and use an N95 if you must be outside. EPA (opens source in a new tab) Ready.gov (opens source in a new tab)
- Check the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map and air.utah.gov. AirNow (opens source in a new tab) Utah DEQ (opens source in a new tab)
3 After
- Follow local authorities on when it's safe to return. Ready.gov (opens source in a new tab) Watch for hot spots and damaged power lines.
- Wear an N95 and gloves when cleaning ash.
- Burn scars raise flood and debris-flow risk for years. Watch flash-flood warnings for areas below recent burns. UGS (opens source in a new tab)