A candle-sparked house fire that hospitalized two Sandy residents and killed a cat on Monday, Aug. 3, is part of what Sandy Fire Chief Ryan McConaghie called an exceptionally busy fire season for crews battling blazes across northern Utah.

McConaghie issued the warning Wednesday, Aug. 5, as Utah's wildfires have burned enough backcountry land to match the size of Salt Lake County. As of Aug. 3, 455,471 acres had burned statewide in 2026, making it the second-worst year for wildfire damage in Utah history, according to KSL News Radio, citing the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. Only 2007, when 629,212 acres burned, was worse.

The Monday, Aug. 3, house fire near 8800 S. 300 East broke out at approximately 2:20 a.m., as we reported that day. One occupant was in a wheelchair and received help from the second person to escape. That second person re-entered the burning home to try to save a pet and was burned. One victim's injuries were described as "very serious," and that person was transported to the University of Utah Burn Center. The house was a total loss.

Sandy's initial investigation listed the cause as undetermined. McConaghie told Utah News Dispatch on Wednesday that the fire was sparked by a candle.

Prevention tips for residents

Unified Fire Authority spokesperson Nate Cochran urged residents to take specific precautions during the extreme heat and dry conditions.

"We try to tell people, again: If you're pulling trailers, try not to be dragging chains," Cochran said Wednesday. "If you are smoking, try not to flick your cigarette butts out the window. If you are doing any type of barbecuing or outdoor fires, anything like that, making sure you have a water source with you."

McConaghie and Cochran said that while extreme outdoor temperatures don't appear to directly intensify house fires, gusty winds can quickly carry flames to neighboring properties. Overworked air conditioning units can also stress mechanical equipment and lead to fires, they said.

Firefighters feeling the heat

The punishing summer has also taken a toll on crews. McConaghie and Cochran said their agencies have been stocking up on electrolyte supplements and closely monitoring firefighters to prevent overheating. Sandy crews also responded as mutual aid to the fourth-alarm apartment fire at the North Union complex in Midvale on Friday, July 31, which displaced approximately 220 households.

Statewide fire conditions

Utah is under Stage 2 fire restrictions statewide, meaning no open fires of any kind on state land, unincorporated private lands in all 29 counties, BLM-managed public lands and National Park Service lands. Of 747 wildfires that burned across Utah as of early August, more than half were human-caused, according to Utah State University Extension data.

McConaghie said Sandy is fortunate not to be experiencing the devastation seen in the Pacific Northwest, where hundreds of homes were leveled in Spokane, Washington, and more than 65,000 people were ordered to evacuate.

Residents can contact the Sandy City Fire Department at 801-568-2930 or visit sandy.utah.gov/fire-1 to report fire hazards or request safety information.