As of the afternoon of June 23, 2026, six larger active wildfires were burning in Utah amid dry conditions following one of the driest winters on record, according to the Salt Lake Tribune and Utah Fire Info. The fires have collectively burned tens of thousands of acres, prompted evacuations in multiple areas, and contributed to poor air quality in the Salt Lake Valley, but no deaths have been reported and specific structure damage figures remain limited in official updates.
Cottonwood Fire details and evacuations
The largest include the Cottonwood Fire near Beaver in Fishlake National Forest, which ignited June 22 and grew to more than 24,000 acres with 0% containment as of Tuesday afternoon. It prompted mandatory evacuations for Eagle Point, Merchant Valley, HiLo Estates, Arrowhead Summer Homes and surrounding areas, along with closure of State Route 153. The cause remains undetermined.
Iron Fire impact in Juab County
The Iron Fire in Juab County near Eureka has burned more than 24,000 acres and is 3% contained. Human-caused, it led to evacuation of the town of Eureka and areas around Chimney Rock Pass, with U.S. Highway 6 closed between Elberta and Eureka. Officials described extreme fire behavior.
Summary of other active Utah fires
Other active fires include the Hastings Fire in Tooele County (about 20,000 acres, 25% contained, human-caused), Sawmill Fire in Iron County (nearly 4,000 acres, 20% contained, natural cause), Bonneville Fire in Salt Lake City near the University of Utah (566 acres, 84% contained, human-caused), and Dutchman Fire in Utah County south of Saratoga Springs (143 acres, 78% contained).
No fire activity reported in Highland
No reports indicate any fire activity, flash fire or otherwise, in Highland on June 24. Highland contracts fire protection with the Lone Peak Fire District, which serves the city and nearby Alpine; no incidents tied to the area appear in recent local coverage or district updates. Earlier small brush fires in the state, such as one in Moab in early June, were quickly contained.
Statewide wildfire statistics and prevention
Statewide, Utah Fire Info reported 347 fires this season through June 23, burning a total of 98,845 acres. Most wildfires in Utah are human-caused, and officials continue to stress prevention amid critical fire weather conditions. Containment efforts are ongoing, with progress noted on fires like the Bonneville and Dutchman incidents. Residents are advised to monitor Utah Fire Info and local alerts for updates on evacuations and air quality.
