The state’s mountains received 40% of the usual rainfall in June, leaving the ground extremely dry and elevating wildfire risk across Utah.
Southeastern Utah’s Babylon Fire is the largest in the country right now. Burning more than 100,000 acres so far, it remains 0% contained as of Tuesday.
Reservoir storage across the state is also low. All but three of Utah’s 19 major basins are in the bottom 20th percentile for water availability.
Water experts remain hopeful the summer monsoon season will diminish fire risk but the rains usually end in early July.
