Utah Wildfire Recovery: 2026 Season Resources for Survivors

Utah is having its most active fire season since 2018, with more than 337,000 acres burned across the state. This page tracks the major fires and, more importantly, gathers the recovery resources available to Utah residents who've been affected — from evacuation and reentry to insurance claims and rebuilding.

The 2026 season has been driven by a below-average snowpack, an unusually warm and dry start to summer, and repeated red-flag conditions across the Great Basin. Several large fires have burned in central and southeastern Utah at the same time, stretching firefighting resources and forcing evacuations in rural counties. If you live in an affected area, the sections below explain where to turn for help.

The major 2026 Utah fires

Here's a snapshot of the largest fires of the season. Fire conditions change daily, so always confirm current status and evacuation orders with the official sources linked further down.

Babylon Fire
San Juan County · ~25 mi SW of Monticello · Manti-La Sal National Forest
~107,189 acres93% contained · lightning-caused
Cottonwood Fire
Beaver County · Beaver River drainage
~96,000 acresContainment climbing · ~150 structures lost
Iron Fire
Juab County · NW of Eureka
41,842 acresContained · recovery guide
Cherry Fire
Juab County · SW of Mammoth
34,252 acresContained · recovery guide

Figures reflect the most recent official reports available as of late July 2026. The Babylon Fire was, at its peak, the largest active wildfire in the United States. For live status, use the official sources below.

If you are under an evacuation order or alert: follow it immediately and do not wait. Check Utah Fire Info and your county sheriff's office for current evacuation zones. Your safety comes before any of the recovery steps on this page.

Where to get help if you've been affected

Recovery after a wildfire follows the same general path no matter which fire affected you. These free resources walk you through each stage.

1. Right after the fire

In the first days, focus on safety, shelter, and documenting your losses before any cleanup begins. Our First 72 Hours guide covers exactly what to do, and the American Red Cross and 211 can help with immediate shelter and essentials.

2. Document what you lost

Before you file an insurance claim, you'll need to account for what was destroyed. This is one of the hardest parts of recovery, and doing it thoroughly protects what you're able to recover.

Free Home Inventory Tool

Walk through your home room by room and download a ready-to-file list for your insurance claim. No sign-up, nothing stored.

Start your inventory →

For a full walkthrough of the claim process, see our guide on creating a home inventory for an insurance claim.

3. Apply for assistance

If a federal disaster is declared for your area, FEMA and SBA assistance may be available, along with state and nonprofit programs. Our financial assistance guide explains what's out there and how to apply.

4. Cleanup, reentry, and rebuilding

Returning safely, handling ash and debris, and beginning to rebuild each have their own steps. Our rebuilding guide walks through the process.

A note on post-fire flooding. After a large wildfire, burned ground can't absorb water well, which sharply raises the risk of flash floods and debris flows for months, or even years — especially in Utah's steep terrain during monsoon season. If you're downstream or downslope of a burn scar, watch for flash-flood warnings and consider flood coverage even if you're outside a mapped flood zone.

Official Utah sources

See all Utah recovery resources

Our Utah wildfires hub gathers state agencies, recovery steps, and guides for individual fires in one place.

Utah recovery hub →

This page is a free informational resource for wildfire survivors and is not legal, financial, or insurance advice. Fire conditions and program details change; please confirm current status and evacuation orders with official sources and confirm program eligibility with each organization. This site is offered as a free resource by The Wagner Law Group; using it does not create an attorney-client relationship.

This site is a free informational resource for wildfire survivors and does not provide legal, financial, insurance, or other professional advice. The information here is general, may not apply to your situation, and should not be relied on as a substitute for advice from a qualified professional — always confirm details with the relevant agency or advisor. This site, including any tools it offers, is provided by The Wagner Law Group, a California law firm (Nicholas J. Wagner, Esq.; 7815 N Palm Ave #410, Fresno, CA 93711). Using this site, using any tool, or contacting us does not create an attorney–client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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