Utah remains at the nation's highest wildfire preparedness level, a designation reached Saturday, July 18, and Draper residents face ongoing smoke risk as drought conditions persist across the Wasatch Front. No fires are burning in Draper, but the statewide threat has direct implications for the city's most fire-exposed neighborhoods.

National and state fire conditions

The country reached Preparedness Level 5 on July 18, the highest tier of wildfire activity and national resource commitment, according to Utah Fire Info data reported by ABC4. As of that date, 40,357 wildfires had burned more than 3.8 million acres nationwide in 2026.

Utah is carrying some of the country's largest active fires. The Babylon Fire near Blanding had burned 107,173 acres at 93% containment as of July 18. The Cottonwood Fire stood at 97,464 acres, the Wild Goose Fire at 12,665 acres, and the Stookey Fire at 10,337 acres. No updated statewide acreage totals were available as of publication.

Smoke already reaching Draper

Draper has already experienced direct impacts this summer. Residents saw heavy smoke and ash on Friday, June 26, when strong winds carried particulates from central Utah fires into the valley. No fires were burning in Draper or adjacent cities at that time, according to the city.

Bryce Bird, director of the Air Quality Division at the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, warned on July 18 that wildfire smoke particles can trigger asthma attacks and, in higher concentrations, heart attacks.

"Once you smell that acrid smoke smell and start feeling that irritation, that's a really good indication that those particle levels are increasing and at a time to reduce your exposure to those particles, especially if you're sensitive," Bird said.

Bird recommended moving indoors, where building filtration reduces particle exposure. The elderly, children, and people with pre-existing lung or heart conditions should wear a well-fitting N95 mask outdoors during smoky conditions, he said.

Fireworks ban underscored severity

Draper City banned personal fireworks for the Pioneer Day period, Wednesday, July 22 through Saturday, July 25, citing extreme wildfire danger and strained firefighting resources statewide. The city said even forecasted rain would not reverse the cumulative effects of summer heat, wind, and drought. Violations carried fines up to $1,000, and anyone who started a fire with illegal fireworks faced criminal charges and financial liability for suppression costs.

Gov. Spencer Cox said on Sunday, July 20, when announcing statewide fireworks restrictions for Pioneer Day: "The Wasatch Front has not had much moisture at all … We're still as bad or maybe worse than we were on Saturday, July 4, 2026 in some cities."

Nearly 95% of Utah was in severe or worse drought as of July 20, with extreme drought in the eastern halves of Salt Lake and Utah counties, according to the governor's office.

Suncrest and wildfire-risk neighborhoods

The ongoing drought and Preparedness Level 5 designation heighten risk for Draper's most fire-exposed neighborhoods. The city's Suncrest community sits in the High-Risk Wildland Urban Interface zone mapped under Utah House Bill 48. The hillside neighborhood scores higher than the valley floor because of slope, vegetation, and proximity to open space, according to the state's Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal.

Draper City has adopted the Wildland-Urban Interface Code requiring fire-resistant roofing and siding, ember-resistant vents, and vegetation management. The Draper Fire Department runs a seasonal fuels crew that conducts brush mitigation in and around Suncrest, supported by a federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program award.

How to stay informed

Residents can sign up for Notify Draper at draperutah.gov to receive emergency alerts by email or text. Additional wildfire safety information is available at UtahFireSense.org.