The Widemouth 2 Fire has surged to more than 68,000 acres in Millard County, prompting the Utah Department of Corrections to evacuate 40 state inmates from the Millard County Jail on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026. The uncontained blaze, which was ignited by a lightning strike on July 27, continues to exhibit extreme behavior and threatens more than 1,000 homes in the Fillmore area.
Inmate Evacuation Details
The Utah Department of Corrections announced Aug. 3 that the relocation of general population inmates was completed Sunday evening without incident. The 40 individuals were moved from the Millard County Jail to the Utah State Correctional Facility as a precautionary measure due to the fire's proximity to the facility and the surrounding community.
Pattern of Emergency Relocations
The UDC noted that this marks the second time in a single month that a wildfire has necessitated the evacuation of 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; those inmates have since been returned to their original facility.
Coordinated Agency Response
The evacuation operation involved coordination between UDC transportation staff, Adult Probation and Parole agents, the Millard County Sheriff's Office, the Department of Public Safety, Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, Statewide Dispatch, and the Utah Highway Patrol. The UDC emphasized that rigorous safety and search protocols were maintained throughout the transport to ensure secure housing upon arrival at the Utah State Correctional Facility.
Explosive Fire Growth
The Widemouth 2 Fire has demonstrated volatile growth, exploding in size over the last 72 hours. Initially reported as a 20-acre fire, the blaze more than tripled from approximately 10,300 acres to over 36,000 acres in a single day before surging to its current size of 68,191 acres. Fire officials have described the fire's behavior as "catastrophic."
Environmental Drivers
The fire's rapid progression is being driven by strong southerly winds, with gusts reaching up to 30 mph, pushing the head of the fire north and northeast toward Fillmore. The fire is burning on U.S. Forest Service Fishlake National Forest lands, approximately two miles southwest of Kanosh, Utah.
Extreme Weather Conditions
Weather conditions in Millard County are creating a "perfect storm" for fire activity. Forecasts indicate continued hot, dry, and sunny conditions with daytime temperatures reaching the mid-to-upper 90s. Relative humidity is expected to drop to critically low levels between 13% and 20%, with minimal overnight humidity recovery to challenge firefighting efforts.
Evacuation and Shelter Statuss
Mandatory evacuation orders remain in effect for several areas, including southern Fillmore'specifically from 500 South, east of Highway 99, extending south to 1600 Southand parts of Kanosh, including areas south of 300 South, Turkey Track Lane, and Cemetery Road. A third evacuation zone extends from 4400 South to Reservation Road near Meadow.
