San Juan County

Navajo Nation Primaries results show new faces for Presidency as well as two of three Utah seats

The 2026 Navajo Nation primary election was held on July 21. Among the races include Navajo Nation Council and Navajo Nation President. Unofficial results are in including for council delegate seats representing Utah Navajo include the seat to represent Teecnospos, Aneth, Red Mesa, Tó Łikan,...

Construction on U.S. Highway 491 is underway, anticipated to run through the end of August

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) began a pavement preservation project on U.S. Highway 491 on June 20 to improve the driving surface and extend the life of the road. The new chip seal will extend from the Monticello port of entry eastward for approximately seven miles. Traffic...

Map of the Babylon fire with the black representing containment. The fire sparked up in June and took weeks of intense battles to get a hold of, crews are in closing stages of management of the fire. Courtesy photo

Babylon Fire at 95-percent containment after burning 107,000 acres

by David Boyle News Director Following weeks of aggressive fire behavior and a massive regional response, officials announced on Monday, July 20, that the Babylon Fire has reached 95% containment. The blaze, which consumed 107,189 acres, is now transitioning into a phase of meticulous suppression,...

helicopter carries a load of water toward Abajo Peak submitted by Talmage Nielson,

Babylon Fire crews get 50% containment

by Bill Boyle SJR Editor An army of more than 1,500 firefighters, from nearly every corner of the nation, have converged on San Juan County to fight the massive Babylon Fire. Over a two-week period, the lightning-caused fire that started near the Babylon Pasture on Elk Ridge grew to become the...

County OK’s fire camp and says no to ZAP tax

by David Boyle News Director At their July 7 meeting members of the San Juan County Commission approved a land use agreement to establish a “spike camp” at the county fairgrounds. At the meeting it was shared that the camp is expected to remain for four to six weeks, housing 1,000 personnel in a...

Fire damage in the North Cottonwood area submitted by Gabe Clarke

A week of firefighting efforts sees growth from 0 to 50% contained

After a grueling week of record-breaking heat and explosive fire behavior, the Babylon Fire has reached a critical 50% containment. The wildfire, which has dominated the landscape of San Juan County for over two weeks, is now estimated at 106,610 acres. This milestone marks a significant turning...

Screenshot from the broadcast of President Trump's signing of two proclamations reducing Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante Monuments.

President Trump reduces size of Bears Ears National Monument from 1.36 million to 121,100 acres

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on July 13 once again reducing the size of the Bears Ears National Monument. The proclamation reduces the size of the Bears Ears Monument from approximately 1.36 million acres to 121,100 acres, an action the White House described as “Rightsizing”. In...

President Trump signs proclamation reducing Bears Ears Monument to 121,100 acres

A type 1 helicopter pulling water to help cool hotspots in areas that crews are working on Friday. Courtesy photo

Babylon Fire containment reaches halfway with monsoon season on the horizon

Containment reaches half-way on Babylon Fire as signs of monsoonal season arrival on the horizon. As of July 13, the Babylon Fire has reached 50-percent containment with the amount of acres up to 106,610 acres burned. That increase from Sunday to Monday was around just 300 acres, a relatively small...

View from Abajo Tower submitted by River Canyon Wireless on July 10. Looking toward Twin Peaks, with Indian Creek drainage in the foreground.

Babylon Fire crews hold their ground at northeast corner

As of July 10, the Babylon Fire has reached 103,633 acres with containment rising to 25%. While crews held the fire to just a 700-acre increase over the previous 24 hours it was not without a lot of effort. Fire officials reported that while the fire was active overnight, crews "held their ground"...