'Double-edged sword': How monsoons could impact Utah's wildfire season

Box Elder News Journal's Podcast · Jul 8, 2026 · 3m

Utah entered the 2026 fire season with record-low snowpack and heightened concerns about wildfires, which are already burning across the state. As of early July, there have been 390 wildfires across Utah burning 296,063 acres. Of these fires, 278 have been human caused, 73 caused by lightning, and 39 with the a cause yet to be determined. While the earlier fires were at mid-elevation in grass, brush, and pinyon-juniper woodlands. As the fire season continues, fire activity is starting to move into higher elevations. This was seen near Beaver, Utah, where the Cottonwood Fire is moving higher…