Summit County plans first Wasatch Back Wildfire Summit for 2027

The free, two-day event will focus on wildfire science, preparedness and regional resilience May 17-18.

PARK CITY, Utah — Summit County is planning its first Wasatch Back Wildfire Summit, a free two-day event focused on wildfire preparedness and resilience across the region.

The summit, set for May 17-18, 2027, will feature discussions and hands-on workshops for residents, local agencies, wildfire professionals, and regional partners.

Planned sessions will explore Utah-based wildfire science and modeling, emergency preparedness, resource sharing, and long-term funding for wildfire resilience across jurisdictional boundaries, according to Summit County.

The county says workshops will be designed for participants with a range of backgrounds and experience levels.

The summit comes as Summit County and its partners continue wildfire mitigation efforts, including forest thinning, fuels reduction, watershed protection and habitat restoration. County officials say the work is intended to reduce wildfire risk while improving forest health and resilience.

Wildfire remained a visible issue across the county this year. The Rocky Canyon Fire near Henefer burned more than 16,000 acres this summer and prompted evacuations in Summit County before crews contained the fire within county boundaries in August. More recently, crews have conducted prescribed burns near Summit Park and Lambs Canyon and along the Mirror Lake Highway corridor to reduce vegetation and other fuels that can contribute to more intense wildfires.

Attendance at the summit will be free, though space will be limited. Registration is expected to open in late 2026 or early 2027.

Additional details, including registration information, will be shared as planning continues.