A Red Flag Warning was issued for Southern Utah on Monday due to critical fire weather conditions.
(U.S. Forest Service) An aerial image of the France Canyon Fire near Bryce Canyon National Park.
Hot, dry and windy conditions are putting much of Southern Utah at higher risk for wildfires.
High winds blew through the region Monday, and by Tuesday morning the France Canyon Fire— the largest wildfire in the state — had more than doubled in size, growing to 4,704 acres, according to the U.S. Forest Service in a news release. The fire remains 0% contained.
“Fire behavior is expected to increase on southern and eastern flanks of the fire with winds shifting out of the northwest today,” the U.S. Forest Service said in a press statement Tuesday morning. Winds will shift again to a more predominant southwest flow Wednesday.
Cooler temperatures Tuesday morning may provide some respite, but the state remains “critically dry,” according to the National Weather Service. High temperatures will return on Wednesday, potentially breaking daily records on Thursday.
“There is new emphasis to hold fire on the west side of the East Fork Road to avoid impacts to Bryce Canyon City and the National Park,” the Forest Service said.
High temperatures Tuesday will be a bit closer to seasonal normals. However, the break will be short lived with building high pressure bringing a warming trend Wednesday and Thursday. Thursday's highs will run up to 20°F above seasonal normals, approaching daily records. #utwx pic.twitter.com/b2l9iTXLqw
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) June 17, 2025
The France Canyon Fire was first discovered 6.5 miles south of Hatch in Dixie National Forest on June 11. Officials suspect the blaze was started by lightning.
Five hundred acres of active fire are burning in the Black Butte area on the Paunsaugunt Plateau west of Bryce Canyon National Park. Visitors to Bryce, as well as surrounding communities such as Tropic and Escalante may experience significant smoke impacts as wind gusts increase.
(Christopher Cherrington | The Salt Lake Tribune)
Crews are focused on slowing the fire’s spread on the southern flank to protect the nearby Bryce Woodlands community, which is currently on alert, according to the Forest Service. Hotshots — highly trained wildland firefighters — are constructing a fire line between the fire and Bryce Woodlands. No evacuations have occurred, and no other communities or structures are immediately threatened.
A total of 306 personnel are currently tackling the fire, with more crews showing up in the coming days. Due to the lack of road access and rough terrain, firefighters have been shuttled to the area via helicopters.
“The fire continues to burn in very dry and receptive fuels along with some areas of difficult terrain,” the U.S. Forest Service said. “Although access is limited in some areas, firefighters have had success in accessing large portions of the fire.”
Firefighting crews are using five helicopters of varying size and capacity, including Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3, to drop water on the blaze. Helicopters are operating out of the Cedar City Airport, as well as the Bryce Canyon Airport where the U.S. Forest Service established an additional base on Sunday to better tackle the eastern edge of the fire.
Road closures include all national forest lands south of Utah State Route 12 on the Powell Ranger District, with the exception of the trails and campgrounds in Red Canyon.
The France Canyon Fire is one of 57 new wildfires sparked in Utah from June 8 through June 16, Utah Fire Info posted on Facebook. Over half of those were human caused. “Your actions matter,” Utah Fire Info said. “Don’t be the reason for the next wildfire.”
Utah counties under a Red Flag Warning on Monday due to hot, dry, windy conditions included Sevier, San Juan, Kane, Emery, Piute, Wayne, Beaver, Garfield, Carbon, Iron, Washington, Juab, Millard, Duchesne, and Sanpete, Daggett, Grand and Uintah.
Residents can find updated information on fire restrictions at utahfireinfo.gov.