{{Short description|Overview of major wildfires in Utah in 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2025}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox wildfire | title = 2023 Utah wildfires | image = Thompson Ridge Fire.jpg | caption = Burn scar from the Thompson Ridge Fire | cost = | references = <ref name="Seasonal Summary">{{cite web |title=Utah Wildfire Annual Report 2023 |url=https://ffsl.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023_UtahWildfireSummary_FINALx.pdf |access-date=August 13, 2025 |website=ffsl.utah.gov}}</ref> | total_fires = 808 | total_area = {{convert|18,061|acre|ha km2}} | buildings = | injuries = | fatalities = | is_season = no | year = 2023 | season_name = Utah wildfires }}

A series of [[wildfire]]s burned throughout the [[U.S. state]] of [[Utah]] during 2023.

== Background == While the typical wildfire season in Utah varies, most fires occur in between July and October.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Jasen |title=Longer wildfire season means more bad air days |url=https://attheu.utah.edu/facultystaff/longer-wildfire-seasons-means-more-bad-air-days/ |website=attheu.utah.edu |publisher=University of Utah |access-date=April 24, 2025}}</ref> Fire conditions can heavily depend on [[monsoons]] that last from late June to September. Dry monsoons can allow fires to start and spread easier, while wet ones can cause fire relief. Additionally, hot temperatures and overall dry conditions play a large role.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Small |first1=Adam |title=Utah sees busy start to 2024 wildfire season, draws comparison to record-breaking year |url=https://kslnewsradio.com/utah/utah-sees-busy-start-to-2024-wildfire-season-draws-comparison-to-record-breaking-year/2111117/ |access-date=April 24, 2025 |work=KSL News Radio |date=June 21, 2024}}</ref>

== Summary == Concerns for a destructive fire season began after Utah's [[snowpack]] reached {{convert|30|inch}} and began melting in spring.<ref name="KSL">{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Carter |title='Utahns were vigilant': How Utah's 2023 wildfire season became a smashing success |url=https://www.ksl.com/article/50764493/utahns-were-vigilant-how-utahs-2023-wildfire-season-became-a-smashing-success |access-date=August 13, 2025 |website=www.ksl.com |date=October 26, 2023}}</ref> However, the start of fire season was late due to high [[Glossary of wildfire terms#fuel moisture|fuel moistures]] from the snowpack. The [[El Niño–Southern Oscillation|El Niño]] prolonged cool, moist conditions from May through early July. Hot and dry conditions minimally increased fire activity in late July and early August, but was still well below average.<ref name="Seasonal Summary" /> Precipitation increased later in August (when 60% of Utah's summer precipitation occurred that year), coming when most vegetation began drying up. Additionally, the temperature that season was the lowest in Utah since 2014, 1.5&nbsp;°F above the 20th century average.<ref name="KSL" /> Heavy rains in September effectively brought an end to fire season.<ref name="Seasonal Summary" />

== List of wildfires == <!-- NOTE: By convention, please only include fires that are over 1,000 acres, unless significant property damage or loss of life occurred. --> The following is a list of fires that burned more than {{Convert|1000|acres}}, or produced significant structural damage or casualties. {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders mw-collapsible" style="text-align:center;" |- !scope="col"|Name !scope="col"|County <!-- of origin--> !scope="col"|Acres !scope="col"|Start date !scope="col"|Containment Date{{Efn|Containment means that fire crews have established and secured control lines around the fire's perimeter. These lines are artificial barriers, like trenches or cleared vegetation, designed to stop the fire's spread, or natural barriers like rivers. Containment reflects progress in managing the fire but does not necessarily mean the fire is starved of fuel, under control, or put out.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=[[KCAL-TV]]|location=Los Angeles|title=What containment and other wildfire related terms mean|date=September 12, 2024|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/what-does-containment-mean-wildfire-evacuation-warning-order-red-flag/|access-date=2025-07-25}}</ref>}} !scope="col"|Notes !scope="col" class="unsortable"|Ref |- !scope="row"|I70 MM 270 |[[Grand County, Utah|Grand]] |1,802 |{{dts|2023|7|10|format=md}} |2023 |Caused by a [[Vehicle rollover|rollover crash]] on [[Interstate 70 in Utah|Interstate 70]]. Burned near the Utah/[[Colorado]] border and closed Interstate 70. Was 89% contained on July&nbsp;11. |<ref>{{cite web |title=I70 MM 270 - Wildfire and Smoke Map |url=https://data.usatoday.com/fires/i70-mm-217/57e4aa36-2079-4b71-8118-dc6ceb688569/?page=8&anchor= |access-date=August 13, 2025 |website=data.usatoday.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Tavss |first1=Jeff |title=I-70 fire in eastern Utah grows to nearly 1,800 acres |url=https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/accident-ignites-brush-fire-shuts-down-i-70-in-eastern-utah |access-date=August 13, 2025 |work=[[KSTU]] |date=July 11, 2023}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|Rocky |[[Tooele County, Utah|Tooele]] |1,300 |{{dts|2023|7|21|format=md}} |{{dts|2023|7|22|format=md}} |Unknown cause. Burned near [[Ibapah, Utah|Ibapah]]. |<ref>{{cite news |last1=Neugebauer |first1=Cimaron |last2=Houck |first2=Michael |title=Rocky Fire in Tooele County 100% contained, spread to over 1,300 acres |url=https://ksltv.com/local-news/rocky-fire-in-tooele-county-100-contained-grew-to-1300-acres/569969/ |access-date=August 13, 2025 |work=[[KSL-TV]] |date=July 22, 2023}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|Thompson Ridge |[[Beaver County, Utah|Beaver]] |7,253 |{{dts|2023|8|4|format=md}} |{{dts|2023|9|7|format=md}} |Lightning-caused. Burned {{convert|10|mile}} southeast of [[Beaver, Utah|Beaver]]. |<ref>{{cite web |title=Thompson Ridge - Wildfire and Smoke Map |url=https://data.galesburg.com/fires/thompson-ridge/55cbdd51-9b53-40c7-b274-7f273a35f575/ |access-date=August 13, 2025 |website=data.galesburg.com}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|Light House Canyon |[[Emery County, Utah|Emery]] |2,037 |{{dts|2023|8|16|format=md}} |2023 |Lightning-caused. Burned {{convert|14|mile}} southeast of [[East Carbon, Utah|East Carbon]]. Was 85% contained on November&nbsp;6. |<ref>{{cite web |title=Light House Canyon - Wildfire and Smoke Map |url=https://data.statesmanjournal.com/fires/light-house-canyon/1110ab69-a6a4-4229-b92b-592d6b039d86/?page=9&anchor= |access-date=August 13, 2025 |website=data.statesmanjournal.com}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|Box |[[Sevier County, Utah|Sevier]] |2,038 |{{dts|2023|9|19|format=md}} |2023 |Lightning-caused. Burned {{convert|10|mile}} northwest of [[Emery, Utah|Emery]]. Due to low fire risk from heavy precipitation and the lateness into the season, firefighters allowed to burn for ecosystem restoration. |<ref>{{cite web |title=Box - Wildfire and Smoke Map |url=https://data.oklahoman.com/fires/box/b29b6c0d-a4a7-4f8a-bcf5-101e4ca1b071/ |access-date=August 13, 2025 |website=data.oklahoman.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Box Fire Map |url=https://app.watchduty.org/i/12799 |access-date=August 13, 2025 |website=[[Watch Duty]]}}</ref> |} {{maplink|frame=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=400|frame-height=400|from=2023 United States wildfires with markers.map|frame-latitude=39.4|frame-longitude=-111.7|zoom=6|text=Perimeters of 2023 Utah wildfires with markers([[c: Data:2023 United States wildfires with markers.map|map data]])}} {{clear}}

== See also == * [[2023 Arizona wildfires]] * [[2023 Colorado wildfires]] * [[2023 New Mexico wildfires]] * [[Wildfires in 2023]]

== Notes == {{notelist}}

== References == {{reflist}}

{{2023 wildfires}} {{Utah wildfires}}

[[Category:2023 wildfires in the United States]] [[Category:Wildfires in Utah by year]] [[Category:2023 in Utah]]