08/23/2026
The is now 100% contained, and all evacuations have been lifted.
What began as a rapidly moving wildfire resulted in 200 acres burned, but thankfully, no homes were lost. That outcome is a testament to the quick actions, coordination, professionalism, and tireless work of the firefighters and emergency personnel who responded.
One individual was transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation, but thankfully, no other injuries were reported.
As this incident comes to a close, the Garland Fire Department wants to take a moment to recognize the many people and agencies who came together to protect our community. Firefighting is never the work of one department or one person. It takes a team, and once again, our community saw that team come together when it mattered most.
To our mutual-aid fire partners: thank you.
We extend our sincere appreciation to Tremonton Fire Department, Box Elder County Fire, Central Box Elder Fire District, Fielding Fire/EMS, Brigham City Fire Department, Plymouth Fire Department, Portage Fire Department, Corinne City Volunteer Fire Department, Willard City Fire Department, BLM Utah, and the state resources assigned through the Task Force team.
Your crews answered the call, left their own stations and families behind, and worked alongside us in difficult and often exhausting conditions. The long hours, heat, smoke, and uncertainty are part of the job, but the dedication you showed to the residents of Garland and the surrounding communities does not go unnoticed. We are grateful for every firefighter who came to help.
To our emergency management and liaison partners: thank you for the work that often happens behind the scenes.
We appreciate Garland City Emergency Management, Box Elder County, Box Elder County Emergency Management, and Utah Fire Info for your assistance with media relations, emergency operations, evacuation coordination, and shelter operations. Keeping the public informed and helping coordinate the many moving pieces of a wildfire response is an enormous responsibility, and your efforts helped keep our community informed and supported throughout this incident.
To our law enforcement partners: thank you for helping keep both the public and emergency responders safe.
We are grateful to Tremonton Garland Police Department, Box Elder County Sheriff's Office, Utah Highway Patrol, and Utah Department of Natural Resources for your assistance with evacuations, traffic control, road closures, and providing a safe working environment for emergency personnel. When firefighters are working along roads, in neighborhoods, and near active fire lines, your support is critical.
To our dispatchers: thank you for being the voice behind the response.
We sincerely appreciate Box Elder Communications-BECC and Weber Area Dispatch 911 & Emergency Services District for the coordination, radio communications, resource requests, and countless other tasks that kept information moving throughout this incident. While the public may not always see the work you do, every firefighter knows how important it is. Your calm and professionalism help make an effective emergency response possible.
And to Kent's Market and Pizza Plus Tremonton — thank you.
During a long fire response, something as simple as a hot meal can mean more than people realize. Your generosity helped feed our firefighters and those impacted by the fire and allowed our crews to refuel and continue working late into the night and all of Saturday. That kind of community support is never taken for granted.
We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the members of our community who donated food, drinks, supplies, and other goods to our firefighters. Your generosity was felt by every person on the fire line. Knowing that the community is behind us gives our firefighters an incredible boost during some of the hardest moments of the job.
This incident is a reminder of what makes our communities special. When something happens, people step forward. Departments send crews. Dispatchers coordinate resources. Law enforcement protects evacuation routes. Emergency managers open shelters and help organize the response. Businesses provide meals. Neighbors donate supplies. And firefighters continue working until the job is done.
That is community.
As we begin 2026 Box Elder County Fair Week and Rodeo, we hope everyone has the opportunity to spend time with family and friends, make memories, and enjoy one of the special traditions our community looks forward to every year.
At the same time, we ask everyone to please remain vigilant and fire-safe.
Box Elder County continues to experience new fire starts, and our firefighters remain ready at a moment's notice to answer the call. Please do your part to help prevent the next fire. Be mindful of outdoor activities, equipment, vehicles, and anything else that could potentially start a wildfire. A few extra moments of caution can make an enormous difference.
This week also carries a deeper meaning for many in our community.
As we approach a year since the loss of Sergeant Lee Sorensen and Officer Eric Estrada, we continue to remember the lives they lived, the people they touched, and the sacrifices they made in service to others.
We know how much Lee loved fair week. As our community gathers together, celebrates, and enjoys time with one another, we hope we can continue to honor Lee and Eric by doing what they did so well — being there for one another.
August has always been a cherished time for our communities. Their sacrifice has forever added another layer of meaning to this time of year, and their names and legacies remain part of the fabric of the communities they served.
Tonight, firefighters will return home to their families. Dispatchers will continue answering the phones. Law enforcement officers will continue protecting our roads. Emergency managers will continue preparing for whatever comes next.
And our community will continue moving forward — together.
We are proud to serve you, grateful for your support, and honored to stand alongside you.
Please stay safe, look out for one another, and enjoy Fair Week.
From all of us at the Garland Fire Department, Thank You!
