Lightning Confirmed as Cause of Babylon Wildfire on Manti-La Sal National Forest
Release Date: July 21, 2026
Contact Information: Holly Shyrer 4352992977 holly.shyrer@usda.gov
Monticello, Utah, July 21, 2026, — The U.S. Forest Service has confirmed that the Babylon Fire, which ignited June 26, 2026, on the Monticello Ranger District of the Manti-La Sal National Forest, was caused by lightning. The fire has burned over 107,173 acres in the Elk Ridge area near the Dark Canyon Wilderness and spread Northeast into the West Mountain area; it is approximately 95 percent contained as of July 20.The Babylon Fire was first detected following a series of lightning strikes recorded on June 25 by the Enterprise Geospatial Portal. On June 26 at approximately 2:15 p.m., smoke was observed by Monticello-based Engine 351 during routine patrol operations. Air resources – including Smoke Jumpers who were already in the vicinity, as well as ground crews responded immediately as the fire quickly grew due to dry fuels, warm temperatures, and gusty southwest winds.Grass, timber, and shrub fuels drove active fire behavior, with smoldering, spotting, and torching pushing the fire past 75 acres by the evening of June 26. Crews worked the flanks through June 27 before retreating to safety as intensity increased. By June 28, a Complex Incident Management Team was ordered and took command on July 1.A detailed origin and cause investigation was conducted by Forest Service law enforcement investigators. The examination documented extensive lightning indicators within the origin area, including multiple lightning‑struck trees, a blow hole at the base of a strike tree, and historical evidence of prior lightning-caused fires. No human activity, ignition devices, equipment, or other potential human-caused fire sources were identified.All other potential ignition sources were investigated and ruled out based on evidence at the scene. The Forest Service reminds the public that lightning can ignite wildfires even in remote areas under dry, windy conditions. For current fire information, contact the Manti-La Sal National Forest or visit the forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/manti-lasal.About the Forest Service: The Forest Service has, for more than 100 years, brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
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