The Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Wildland Fire Service began prescribed fire operations throughout Utah on November 3, 2026. These operations will proceed as weather, fuel, and air quality conditions become favorable and are expected to continue throughout the fall and winter.
These prescribed burns are designed to reduce hazardous fuels, restore native ecosystems, and protect nearby communities. Techniques used during these operations range from machine and hand pile ignitions to broadcast burning, which involves applying fire to an entire area.
By targeting residual materials from previous thinning operations and built-up fuels, these treatments aim to decrease the load of underbrush, branches, and dead trees that present wildfire risks. The efforts focus on increasing safety within the wildland-urban interface and restoring ecological function to the landscape.
Firefighters utilize constructed control lines and natural features to maintain fire containment, following protocols intended to minimize smoke impacts on local communities.
During these burns, smoke may settle in low-lying areas overnight. Residents are encouraged to close windows at night to avoid smoke impacts. Drivers in smoky areas should slow down and turn on their headlights. Individuals with asthma or other chronic heart or lung diseases should monitor local air quality maps and consult doctors regarding smoke protection.
Information regarding active or upcoming specific burns in Utah is available online. For further details, the public may contact the U.S. Wildland Fire Service Geographic Area or the BLM District Office associated with a specific burn.
