The Widemouth 2 Fire in Millard County has now burned more almost 85,000 acres as of Wednesday morning and continues to spread with 0% containment.
“It’s been just unbelievable to watch,” said Millard County Sheriff Steve O’Camb at a community meeting Monday. “The way that thing burned the other night, I’ve never seen any such a thing.”
O’Camb said he and his staff “have been on hand literally 24 hours a day since this thing started.”
The central Utah fire is the hot spot but far from the only area of concern in the Beehive State this summer, where even a small brushfire anywhere along the Wasatch Front draws elevated concern, and 2026 shapes up to perhaps be the worst in state history.
While the western edge of the fire has “minimal heat,” the east side is “growing too quickly” and crews were “unable to directly engage because of the pace of the fire,” according to Utah Fire Info.
No structure loss or major injuries have resulted from the fire, but many residents in Fillmore, Kanosh and Meadow cities are under evacuation orders, and more are warned to prepare as the fire continues. The fire also prompted inmates from the Millard County Jail to evacuate as a precautionary measure, for the second time in a month.
Utah Fire Info categorized the growth of the Widemouth 2 Fire as “catastrophic” and warned residents to avoid the area.
“This is not a request, but a (plea) to help us keep people alive,” Utah Fire Info said in a post on X. “We cannot impress enough the danger of this continuously changing incident.”
As the fire continues to rage, Fillmore Mayor Curt Hare encouraged residents to “Be kind, be patient and know that we are doing everything we can to minimize the impact of this fire on the community.”
In a community meeting held Tuesday night, residents were told that resources “remain in short supply,” due to the numerous large wildfires burning across the country.
Brian Monroe, Fillmore District ranger for Fishlake National Forest, said officials “continue to battle” the growing fire. Monroe also said the work of fire officials trying to contain the spread of the fire over the weekend was “a miracle.”
“If you see them, shake their hand, give them a hug because they performed a miracle,” Monroe told community members.
“I know this has been long. I know this has been hard,” Monroe continued. “But ... we will make it through it.”
Weather conditions fueling Widemouth 2 Fire are contributing to other fires across Utah
A dry winter and low humidity are contributing to the rapid spread, a combination that creates “the perfect storm” for rapid fire growth, according to Monroe.
These alarming weather conditions have contributed to the historically dangerous fire season in Utah that has included more than 750 fires across the state.
In a statement to the Deseret News, the U.S. Wildland Fire Service said the large concentration of fires in Utah “reflects the combination of seasonal conditions, weather, and available fuels in those areas.”
One of Utah’s newest fire, the Johnson Canyon Fire in Box Elder, was sparked the night of Aug. 1 and has engulfed 6,889 acres as of Tuesday evening, according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association.
Officials working to contain the Johnson Canyon Fire have had more success than those working on the larger Widemouth 2 Fire, but despite their progress, “conditions across Utah remain extremely dangerous,” said Gov. Spencer Cox.
Cox warned Utah residents to “please avoid anything that could create a spark, follow all fire restrictions, and stay alert.”
The 2026 fire season is now the second worst in Utah history
The Widemouth 2 Fire is one of eight ongoing wildfires currently in Utah, according to Utah Fire Info. Four of them — Johnson Canyon, Black Canyon Dodge and Little Horse — sparked within the last week. The Cottonwood, Babylon and Wild Goose fires began more than a month ago.
The 2026 fire season in Utah has now burned almost 475,000 acres, making it the second worst fire season by acreage in state history, behind the 2007 season that burned 629,212 acres.
Authorities continue to warn Utah residents to be cautious during the precarious fire season.
“Any new fire could spread rapidly,” Utah Fire Info said to residents in a post on X. “Avoid sparks and use #FireSense.”