Uncontained Babylon Fire burns over 87,500 acres in southeastern Utah

MONTICELLO, Utah (KUTV) — The second-largest wildfire in the nation has burned more than 87,500 acres and destroyed five structures in southeastern Utah.

The Babylon Fire reached a total of 87,554 acres in San Juan County, officials with the U.S. Forest Service said in a Saturday morning update.

More resources arrived in the area, with 730 firefighters now working to control the wildfire, which remains at 0% containment.

The cause of the fire, which ignited on June 26, has not yet been determined.

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Utah has the two largest wildfires in the nation, with the Babylon Fire about 9,000 acres smaller than the Cottonwood Fire. The Cottonwood Fire has burned 94,417 acres in Beaver and Piute Counties and is 25% contained.

While the fires both saw little growth overnight, officials said hot, dry weekend temperatures could potentially lead to increased fire activity. They said a Fire and Fuels Advisory has been issued for the state of Utah.

“This extreme dryness, combined with an unstable atmosphere, will naturally increase the potential for the fire to flare up and create large smoke columns,” officials said.

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