2022 Nevada wildfires

A series of wildfires burned throughout the U.S. state of Nevada during 2022.

Background

The typical fire season in Nevada lasts from May to October, the time when vegetation is the driest. However, the timing varies every year based on a number of other factors, including if there is hot, dry weather, the amount of dry vegetation, and when there are more natural causes possible, such as lightning. The peak time of the season is also determined by these factors. Historically, wildfire severity has increased due to large amounts of dry fuel, and acreage typically increases in drought-like and heavy precipitation years.

Summary

Governor Steve Sisolak highlighted in his forecast in May Nevada was in its third consecutive year of drought. Even in late April, every county was under some level of drought. This resulted in the forecast of an exacerbated fire season.
Spring and winter were extremely dry in the Great Basin, which prompted expectations of an early and severe fire season. However, some fuels in Southern Nevada were below average. An extremely early, wet monsoon reduced activity in Southern Nevada in late June. Overall, the monsoon produced between 120% and 200% of the normal rainfall, depending on the region. A large lightning event throughout Eastern Nevada, Western Utah, and Idaho. Conditions in late summer and early fall kept wildfires burning during that time.

List of wildfires

The following is a list of fires that burned more than, or produced significant structural damage or casualties.

Name	County	Acres	Start date	Containment date	Notes	Ref
Kinsley	White Pine, Elko	3,209	17 6 2022	23 6 2022	Undetermined cause. Burned northeast of Ely.
Goshute	Elko	1,966	25 6 2022		Lightning-caused. Burned south of West Wendover.
Becky Peak	White Pine	5,989	8 7 2022	18 7 2022	Human-caused. Burned north of Ely.
Wildcat	Elko	21,429	13 7 2022	25 7 2022	Undetermined cause. Burned near Wells.
Dodge Springs	Lincoln, Washington (UT)	5,644	22 7 2022	30 7 2022	Lightning-caused. Burned southeast of Caliente.
Cherry Gulch	Humboldt	15,859	26 8 2022		Undetermined cause. Burned north of the Burning Man festival south of Denio.