North Ogden fire forces evacuations as forecast calls for wind and dry thunderstorms

A vehicle burned in a fire in North Ogden in Weber County is pictured on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (Courtesy of Utah Fire Info)

Several fast-moving fires have broken out in Utah in the last few days, including a blaze in Weber County that is threatening homes and prompted about 150 evacuations. 

Discovered Wednesday afternoon in the foothills of North Ogden, the Willard Peak Fire ballooned to about 754 acres in roughly 24 hours, with smoke clouding much of the Wasatch Front. As of Friday afternoon, it was not at all contained. 

Fueled by increasingly dry conditions and strong winds, the Willard Peak Fire was sparked by a vehicle fire, which then spread uphill through scrub oak trees. By Wednesday evening, the state reported at least 29,000 customers were without power. Erratic winds in the area prompted air resources to be grounded. 

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Crews worked overnight and by Thursday morning Utah Fire Info reported no structures had been lost. However, conditions remain ripe for fire activity. 

Although there is some rain in the forecast, especially in high elevation parts of northern Utah, nearly the entire state remains under a red flag warning, and meteorologists expect dry thunderstorms and high winds. The National Weather Service says “critical” fire weather conditions will be in place for all of northern Utah, as well as parts of eastern Nevada, southern Idaho and western Wyoming for the next 24 hours. 

“Moisture moving into the area will bring increasing coverage of afternoon thunderstorms today. Given the dry lower levels, little if any rain will fall with these storms,” the National Weather Service announced in a social media post. 

Fires continue to burn in the Uinta Mountains, southern Utah 

On Wednesday, a lightning strike sparked a new fire in the Uinta Mountains near the popular hiking and camping areas surrounding Washington and Trial lakes. 

Called the Haystack Fire, it was reported to be about half an acre, burning in the forest. 

That’s the second fire burning in the Uinta Mountains, with the Beulah Fire now at an estimated 4,341 acres. The fire was discovered on Aug. 7, and the cause is still under investigation. 

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Given its location — a remote section of national forest defined by steep, rugged terrain and dry, dead trees from previous fires and beetle kill — crews are taking a hands-off approach to fighting the fire. 

“Crews are instead working indirectly from safer locations, which reduces the risk to firefighters and is currently the best strategy for long-term success in containing the fire,” the National Forest Service said in a statement, noting that the fire is 0% contained. 

The Monroe Canyon Fire, which has been burning since July 13 in southwest Utah near Richfield, is the largest blaze in Utah this year, and the seventh largest in the continental U.S. so far in 2025, according to federal data. As of Thursday, it was reported to be at more than 73,600 acres, and 41% contained.