The Widemouth 2 Fire has forced the evacuation of 40 state inmates from the Millard County Jail and prompted the U.S. Forest Service to issue an extended closure order for large portions of the Fishlake National Forest. The wildfire currently threatens more than 1,000 homes in Fillmore as officials coordinate emergency response and recovery efforts across multiple counties.
Inmate Evacuations and Safety Protocols
The Utah Department of Corrections executed a secure transport operation on Sunday night, Aug. 2, 2026, to move 40 general population inmates from the Millard County Jail to the Utah State Correctional Facility. According to the Utah Department of Corrections, the relocation was a precautionary measure due to the uncontained Widemouth 2 Fire and its threat to local residential areas.
This move marks the second time in a single month that a wildfire has required the department to evacuate state inmates from a county jail. On July 3, 2026, the department successfully relocated inmates from the San Juan County Jail to the Utah State Correctional Facility due to the Babylon Wildfire. In that previous instance, the inmates were eventually returned to their original facility once conditions stabilized.
The Sunday night operation was completed without incident, involving coordination between the Utah Department of Corrections, the Millard County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Public Safety, Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, Statewide Dispatch, the Utah Highway Patrol, and Adult Probation and Parole agents.
Forest Service Implements Long-Term Closure
The U.S. Forest Service has implemented strict restrictions to protect public health and safety as the fire continues to burn. A Forest Order issued by the Fishlake National Forest on Aug. 4, 2026, established a closure of all roads and trails within a specific area of the Fillmore Ranger District.
The closure, which went into effect at 5:00 P.M. on Aug. 4, is scheduled to remain in effect until Oct. 31, 2026, unless it is rescinded earlier. The restricted area is bounded by the administrative Forest boundary and Forest Road 106 to the north, Sec. 35, T20S, R3W to the east, and Clear Creek Canyon road to the south. The western boundary follows Clear Creek Canyon to the junction with I-70 and follows I-70 to Forest Road 888.
Under the order, entering the described area, being on the restricted roads, or being on the restricted trails is strictly prohibited. Violations of this order are punishable as a Class B misdemeanor, which carries a potential fine of up to $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or imprisonment for up to six months.
State and Federal Leaders Coordinate Response
State and federal leaders are conducting a multi-county site visit on Aug. 6, 2026, to address both active fire response and post-fire recovery. The tour includes Governor Spencer J. Cox, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz, and various local leaders.
The itinerary begins in Beaver County, where officials will attend a formal funding commitment signing at the Beaver County Courthouse. Following the signing, leaders will depart to view post-fire flooding mitigation efforts related to the Cottonwood Fire. The visit aims to address recovery from the Cottonwood Post-Fire while simultaneously managing the active Widemouth 2 Fire.
In Millard County, officials will hold a briefing at the Kanosh Town Hall. The briefing is scheduled to include Tony Demasters, the Incident Commander for the State of Utah, the U.S. Forest Service, and the US Wildland Fire Service, alongside the Millard County Sheriff, Millard County Commissioners, and several local mayors, including the mayors of Meadow City, Kanosh, and Fillmore.
Ongoing Threats to Local Communities
The Widemouth 2 Fire remains an active and dangerous threat to local communities. As noted by the Utah Department of Corrections, the fire currently threatens more than 1,000 homes in the vicinity of Fillmore. The instability of the weather in the region has added complexity to the management of the fire and the coordination of relief efforts.
Local leadership, including the mayors of Fillmore, Kanosh, and Meadow City, are participating in high-level briefings to ensure that community needs are met during the active fire event and the subsequent recovery period. The presence of federal officials like Chief Schultz highlights the scale of the coordination required between state and national agencies to manage the wildfire's impact on the region.
Looking Ahead
As the Widemouth 2 Fire continues to burn, the Fishlake National Forest will remain under strict closure through the end of October to ensure public safety. Meanwhile, the Utah Department of Corrections continues to monitor conditions to determine when it may be safe to return relocated inmates to the Millard County Jail.
