A wildfire that ignited Monday, August 3, near the mouth of Parleys Canyon sent thick smoke over Interstate 80 and could push haze into Park City and Summit County as winds shift.

The Millcreek Fire broke out near Tanner Park on the Salt Lake County side of the canyon and burned through steep, dry terrain above the freeway. Flames reached 20 to 30 feet on the north edge of Parley Historic Nature Park, according to KUTV. By Monday evening, firefighters had stopped the fire's forward progress at an estimated 15 acres, Utah Fire Info reported.

Helicopters and air tankers made repeated water and retardant drops through the afternoon while ground crews struggled with the rugged terrain. Nate Cochran, a Unified Fire spokesperson, told KSL that water supply was another challenge.

"Naturally, in the grass fires there's no hydrants or anything like that. So we did have to call in some additional water tenders just to have water support," Cochran said.

UDOT closed the ramp from eastbound I-80 to southbound I-215 and warned drivers to expect heavy delays. Thick smoke limited visibility near the interchange.

No structures were lost.

Officials had not reported any evacuations as of Monday evening, though crews set up structure protection along Canyon Rim Lane, TownLift reported. Unified Fire said no structures were currently threatened. One firefighter sustained a knee injury unrelated to the fire itself.

Changing winds could carry smoke into the Wasatch Back, potentially affecting air quality in Park City, Summit County, and Heber Valley, according to TownLift's reporting on fire conditions. UDOT advised residents traveling to or from the Salt Lake Valley to be prepared for possible delays through Parleys Canyon and to monitor conditions before heading west.

Summit County remains under Stage 2 fire restrictions amid extreme fire danger. Residents can check air conditions through the Summit County Health Department's outdoor air webpage or text SCFIRE to 91896 for wildfire and burn-restriction updates.

The fire is the second significant blaze near Parleys Canyon in less than a month, according to KSL. Millcreek resident Brendan O'Fallon, who regularly walks his dogs near the area, told KSL on August 3 that the dry conditions made a fire feel inevitable. He said a brush fire near his home a week or two earlier had damaged his fence.

Statewide, nearly 750 fires have burned close to 425,000 acres in Utah so far in 2026, making it the state's most destructive wildfire year since 2018, according to KSL NewsRadio.

Officials asked the public to stay clear of firefighting operations and avoid stopping along I-80 to watch the fire.