Hill Air Force Base to Conduct Detonations in Utah Desert

Explosions planned weekly through September to safely destroy old rocket motors

Mar. 31, 2026 at 10:49pm

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Hill Air Force Base in Utah is set to begin a series of large detonations at the Utah Test and Training Range starting in April. The Air Force plans to conduct one or two detonations per week through September, involving more than 10,000 pounds of net explosive weight to safely destroy old or obsolete Department of War rocket motors.

Why it matters

The Utah Test and Training Range is the only location in the U.S. where open detonations of large rocket motors are allowed. While the Air Force will try to minimize sound disruption, residents in northern Utah may still feel vibrations and shaking from the explosions, which have occurred regularly at the range since 2012.

The details

The detonations will take place at the Utah Test and Training Range, located about 80 miles west of Salt Lake City in the West Desert. The Air Force uses an atmospheric prediction model to determine if conditions are acceptable for detonation, but this is not always accurate, leading to some vibrations being felt by nearby residents.

  • The detonations will begin in April 2026 and continue through September 2026.
  • There will be one or two detonations per week during this time period.

The players

Hill Air Force Base

A United States Air Force base located in northern Utah, near the city of Ogden.

Utah Test and Training Range

A U.S. Air Force facility located in the West Desert of Utah, about 80 miles west of Salt Lake City, where open detonations of large rocket motors are allowed.

Amanda Burton

The 75th Civil Engineer Group's Environmental Branch Chief at Hill Air Force Base.

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What they’re saying

“We want to do this work without adversely affecting our neighbors and the environment.”

— Amanda Burton, 75th Civil Engineer Group's Environmental Branch Chief

What’s next

Hill Air Force Base will continue to monitor atmospheric conditions and make adjustments to the detonation schedule as needed to minimize disruptions to nearby residents.

The takeaway

The detonations at the Utah Test and Training Range are a necessary part of the Air Force's work to safely dispose of old rocket motors, but the base is taking steps to try to reduce the impact on the surrounding community as much as possible.