The Southern California wildfires of January 2025 shocked the nation as flames tore through thousands of acres, displaced citizens and reduced entire communities to ruins.
Now, with Utah’s dry climate and increasingly extreme weather, the state faces many of the same wildfire threats. As California continues to recover from the destruction, one urgent question looms: Could Utah be next?
Current fires
This summer’s wildfire season is already impacting Southern Utah. The Forsyth Fire, which ignited on June 19 in Dixie National Forest, destroyed at least 14 homes and forced widespread evacuations. According to ABC4, as of July 1, the blaze burned more than 13,000 acres and remains 32% contained.
Close to 700 personnel are assigned to the fire, including ground crews, helicopter operators and engine teams. Crews have been working continuously to establish fire breaks between Pine Valley and the advancing flames. The Salt Lake Tribune reported that evacuation orders displaced 400 to 500 citizens of Pine Valley. Officials also ordered a mandatory evacuation for Grass Valley and Gray’s Ranch.
Additionally, ABC4 said that the France Canyon Fire, burning near Bryce Canyon since June 11, scorched an estimated 27,000 acres and is 15% contained. While no structures have been damaged, approximately 760 personnel are involved in containment efforts.
Implications of the wildfire season
The Forsyth Fire, the France Canyon Fire, and the California wildfires of 2025 share a common thread: dry terrain, high temperatures and volatile weather conditions. Lightning strikes reportedly sparked both the Forsyth and France Canyon fires.
According to the Unified Fire Authority, much of the state is covered with cheat grass, a highly flammable, invasive species that thrives in open landscapes. This fast-burning grass spreads fire rapidly and grows near oak trees, which can further intensify fire activity.
In Utah, wildfire risk is not spread evenly across the state. Reports from the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Land say that certain regions face a far greater threat, particularly to those near natural vegetation. Remote homes nestled against dense forests and dry vegetation create a dangerous risk for wildfire fuel.
Climate change
According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), climate change refers to long-term shifts in environmental patterns, including temperature, precipitation and seasonal behavior. Fire weather is becoming increasingly common, and human activity is a major factor.
“As the planet warms, hotter weather, earlier snowmelt and decreasing summer rainfall are all contributing to increased fire activity,” NASA reported.
NASA also noted that decades of fire suppression have allowed flammable material to build up in many forests. This, combined with hotter and drier conditions, significantly increases the potential for extreme wildfires.
To better understand how climate change affects Utah’s forests, The Chronicle spoke with Dr. Phillip Dennison, a professor in the School of Environment, Society & Sustainability at the U. Dennison, who specializes in wildfire science and remote sensing, explained that Utah’s forest ecosystems are increasingly vulnerable due to rising temperatures and prolonged drought conditions.
“Hotter summer temperatures are increasing stress on many tree species in Utah forests,” Dennison said. “High temperatures combined with insect outbreaks have resulted in increasing mortality.”
Dennison also pointed to visible changes occurring in Utah’s mountain ecosystems, particularly in the Wasatch Range.
“In the Wasatch, it’s quite easy to see that trees at the lower end of their elevation range, experiencing higher temperatures and drought stress, are more severely affected,” he said. “Aspen trees at lower elevations seem to be doing much worse than aspen growing at higher elevations, for example.”
Dennison explained that rising temperatures are creating a growing mismatch between climate conditions and forest species’ natural range. This lag in adaptation leaves large areas of forest more vulnerable to die off, and, ultimately, to succumb to wildfire.
Beyond forest health, wildfires have a broader environmental impact by releasing emissions that contribute to climate change. Although greenhouse gases typically have a net neutral effect, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) explains that frequent or large fires can leave excess greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This happens because new plants may not grow quickly enough to absorb carbon before the next fire, creating a cycle that intensifies climate change.
Next Steps
While systemic environmental changes largely drive wildfire prevention efforts, individuals still play an important role. Citizens can take practical steps to help reduce wildfire risk in their communities.
The American Red Cross published a series of wildfire prevention recommendations aimed at helping individuals reduce the risk of unintentionally starting fires. They advised starting campfires only in designated fire pits cleared of nearby vegetation and surrounded by rocks or other barriers. Citizens should never leave fires unattended and fully extinguish them with water and dirt before leaving.
The organization also warns against building fires on windy days, when sparks and embers can easily spread. In such conditions, they recommend postponing campfires until the weather is safer.
With Utah confronting longer and hotter fire seasons, experts say the response must combine systemic change and individual action. Whether through policy reform, land management or everyday fire safety, the real question is no longer if wildfires will strike, but how prepared Utah will be when they do.
