Utah Wildfire: Where is the Brian Head Blaze Heading Next?

Brian Head fire
The Brian Head fire is pictured in this image from the Great Basin Incident Management Team, taken on June 19. The fire has spread 5,000 acres and caused evacuations of several towns. Great Basin Incident Management Team

A massive wildfire in Utah has been raging for five days and is causing evacuations across the state as firefighters struggle to get the blaze under control.

The fire started on Saturday afternoon in Brian Head, Utah Governor Gary Herbert said on Tuesday, likely by a weed torch, a device used by gardeners or agriculturalists to kill weeds with heat.

No lives have been lost in the fire, but the blaze has grown to some 5,000 acres (eight square miles) and is being fought by nine helicopters, 27 fire engines and 10 crews that number 500 people, local station KUTV reported on Thursday. The fire was just 15 percent under control.

#BrianHeadFire Wow! The firefighters have my complete respect. pic.twitter.com/mKxgZwtZIn

— Bryce Caine (@brycecaine) June 21, 2017

The fire's reach has been aided by high winds and temperatures, though the heat is expected to ease off in the coming days. The local county sheriff in Garfield began urgent evacuations of three localities on Wednesday evening—Clear Creek, Beaver Dam, and Horse Valley—which all lie northeast of Brian Head. The American Red Cross is on hand in Utah to help any evacuees or displaced people requiring assistance.

The Great Basin Incident Management Team, which is tackling the fire, estimates that the blaze will continue to burn for another week and will not be contained until July 5. The fire is expected to continue moving northeast from its original site.

The Dixie National Forest, a two-million acre site popular with campers, has issued road and trail closures to keep the public away from areas potentially affected by the fire. A major highway also remains closed for a 13-mile stretch from Parowan to Cedar Breaks National Monument.

Utah's fire authorities have urged members of the public to only collect essential items—such as prescriptions and identification documents—during evacuations and have also issued fresh fire restrictions in several counties across the state.

These include a ban on smoking in certain dry areas, using fireworks and building open fires unless in designated recreation sites; violations can result in a six-month jail sentence and maximum $1,000 fine.

Humans are the biggest cause of wildfires in the United States. A February study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that 84 percent of the blazes firefighters were called to between 1992 and 2012 were caused by humans, including by the discarding of cigarettes and leaving campfires unattended.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


Conor is a staff writer for Newsweek covering Africa, with a focus on Nigeria, security and conflict.

To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.

Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek magazine delivered to your door
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go
Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go