The Stookey Fire has expanded to 10,276 acres in Tooele County, with firefighting personnel reporting only 5% containment as of Wednesday. A total of 342 personnel remain engaged in battling the blaze, focusing their efforts on the southern perimeter of the fire.
Rapid Acreage Growth
According to reports from kmyu.tv, the wildfire has experienced rapid growth over the past week due to erratic wind conditions. As of Wednesday, 342 personnel were actively fighting the flames, though containment levels remain low at just 5%. Crews have been concentrating their efforts on the southern edge of the fire to prevent further expansion.
The fire's progression has been marked by significant jumps in acreage over several days. Four days ago, reports indicated the fire had grown to 9,500 acres as winds continued to fuel the spread through Tooele County.
Wind-Driven Expansion
The fire's expansion began with a significant surge five days ago, when the blaze burned an additional 2,600 acres overnight. This growth occurred after the fire had been mapped at approximately 4,000 acres the previous night, driven by unpredictable wind patterns.
Six days ago, the Stookey Fire was reported to have surged to 4,000 acres. During that period, the spread of the fire prompted local authorities to close Pony Express Road at State Route 36 to ensure public safety as erratic winds pushed the flames through the area.
Origins Near Vernon
The Stookey Fire was first discovered on a Friday, appearing in an area east of Vernon. In its earliest recorded stage one week ago, the fire burned an estimated 550 acres in a region west of previous large-scale wildfires in Tooele County.
This specific area is situated west of the locations where the Iron and Cherry Fires previously burned. While the Stookey Fire has seen much more rapid growth recently, it occupies a similar geographic landscape to those earlier major incidents.
Regional Fire Context
The current volatility of the Stookey Fire follows a period of relative stabilization for other recent wildfires in the region. Approximately two weeks ago, reports indicated that the Iron and Cherry Fires near Eureka had reached 90% containment.
Those two fires, which burned over 76,000 acres combined, saw firefighting resources shift from the Iron Fire to the Cherry Fire as crews neared full containment of the former. Home fire units were noted as taking back command of those incidents during that time.
Current Fire Status
As of July 19, 2026, the Stookey Fire remains a significant active threat in Tooele County. With containment at only 5%, the 342 personnel on site continue to manage a fire that has more than doubled its size since it was first mapped at 4,000 acres just six days ago.
