Big Mountain Fire (UT)
Satellite image: NASA MODIS (infrared — active fire in orange/red, from yesterday).
Heat detections: NASA FIRMS (last 48h).
Quick facts
- Location
- 5 Miles SW from Elberta, UT
- Cause
- Natural
- Personnel
- 56
- Complexity
- Type 4 Incident
- Fuel
- Chaparral (6 feet)
- Behavior
- Active, Wind Driven Runs
- Jurisdiction
- BLM · Federal land
Burning in Utah County, Utah, the active Big Mountain Fire has expanded across 300 acres since it was ignited by natural causes on August 23, 2026. Managed by the BLM on federal land, the fire is situated within a region where the typical fire season runs from June to October. Over the past 48 hours, satellites have detected four heat signatures nearby, while instruments continue to pick up a moderate heat intensity from the front.
This incident unfolds against a broader national backdrop where 2,993,191 hectares have burned across the country so far in 2026, marking a figure that is 45% below the two-decade average.
In context
This wildfire has been burning in Utah for 1 day. So far it has affected roughly 400 acres — about 1.6 km². Crews report no containment yet, so the fire can still spread.
In the Northern Hemisphere, wildfire activity usually peaks during the warm, dry months — roughly May through October.
The bigger picture in United States
Across United States, roughly 2,993,191 hectares have burned so far in 2026 — 45% below the two-decade average. Data from Copernicus GWIS.
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Community reports
Reports from people near the fire · unverified
Not official emergency information. In an emergency, contact fire services/authorities.
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