Since it ignited June 26, the Babylon Fire has scorched more than 106,000 acres of forest in the Manti‑La Sal mountains above Monticello, Utah, keeping the small town on constant alert for evacuation. Residents say they remain ready to leave at a moment’s notice while crews work to stop the blaze.
For the past week many people have gathered each evening on Monticello’s west edge to cheer and thank the long lines of fire trucks returning from the Abajo Mountains. The nightly shows of support are meant to bolster the hundreds of firefighters assigned to the incident and lift community spirits.
Local officials describe an explosive start to the fire. Dry conditions and 50 mph winds blew the blaze up quickly in its first days, at times consuming tens of thousands of acres in a single day. Monticello’s mayor, Kevin Dunn, recalls an afternoon when a towering column of dark smoke loomed over the mountains and ash filled the town, a scene he called almost apocalyptic. He and other officials fielded anxious calls and urged residents to prepare to go if an evacuation became necessary; roughly 2,000 people were placed on notice.
Longtime residents have been packing essentials and watching neighbors load cars. Bonnie Des Rosiers, who moved to Monticello from Florida about 25 years ago, says people have been “ready to go” for more than a week and that leaving would mean risking everything they own.
Federal response has been substantial. Agencies have spent nearly $42 million so far, deploying helicopters, air tankers, drones and more than 1,500 firefighters. Crews cut a firebreak in oak brush west of town to slow the advance.
A shift in weather—thunderstorms that brought moisture and lighter smoke—has helped. The fire is reported as roughly 54 percent contained. Mack MacFarland, a 34‑year firefighting veteran who recently assumed incident command, cautioned residents not to grow complacent. He pointed to the recent Knowles Fire in western Colorado, where three firefighters died and witnesses described unprecedented fuels and fire behavior, as a reminder that conditions remain unpredictable.
Still, the mood in Monticello has softened. On one recent evening about 45 people waved homemade signs and cheered as exhausted crews returned; some firefighters responded with honks and small waves. Residents such as Adriann Goodwine say those gestures of appreciation have helped the community cope.
Officials have lowered the evacuation alert from a highest “set” level to a “ready” status, meaning people should remain prepared to leave if conditions worsen. For now the town is breathing easier, but the threat is not over: how long Monticello remains at risk will depend on weather and the fire’s behavior in the coming days.