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- A 1,500-acre controlled burn in Farmington Bay created large smoke plumes.
- The burn aimed to reduce phragmites, an invasive species near Great Salt Lake.
- Residents were advised to avoid the area and take precautions for smoke sensitivity.
FARMINGTON — A large cloud of smoke towered over Davis County on Monday as part of a 1,500-acre controlled burn.
The Utah Division of Forestry Fire and State Lanes said the prescribed burn was happening in Farmington Bay, with smoke visible near Bountiful and surrounding areas.
People in the community were told to avoid the burn area, but that there is also no reason to report it to authorities, according to Utah Fire Info.
A spokesperson from the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands said the burn was designed to burn phragmites, a species of reed invasive to the Great Salt Lake.
"The priority unit is the Turpin RX area west of Bountiful. Smoke may be visible in surrounding communities. Residents in the area should take any necessary precautions for smoke sensitivity as crews work to reduce hazardous fuels and improve habitat conditions," Utah Fire Info wrote in a Facebook post on Friday.
Video posted to the National Weather Service's 'X' account showed a timelapse of how the plume of smoke had developed over time on Monday.
If you're on the Wasatch Front, you probably noticed a large pryocumulus cloud develop over a prescribed fire! Here's a timelapse of the plume development and a display of the instability in place over northern Utah #utwxpic.twitter.com/tLhZnqjUZ3
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) May 25, 2026
Residents reported to KSL that ash could be seen falling across Davis County from pyrocumulus clouds that formed over the massive controlled burn.
The South Weber Fire Department addressed concerns regarding the falling ash in a statement on Monday afternoon.
"The purpose of this controlled burn is twofold: to reduce hazardous fuels and mitigate the spread of phragmites, an invasive plant species that consumes excessive water. Key details of the burn include its location along the Farmington Bay and Great Salt Lake shores near Bountiful," the statement from the department reads in part.
Officials did not indicate how long the large clouds of smoke may be present in the area.
Those with sensitivities to smoke were encouraged to take necessary precautions, the fire department added.
