Utah Governor Spencer Cox has declared a state of emergency and issued temporary restrictions on fireworks ahead of the July holiday season, citing unprecedented fire conditions and the rapid growth of the nation's largest wildfire. The Cottonwood Fire, located in southern Utah, had grown to nearly 111 square miles (287 square kilometers) by Friday and remained entirely uncontained.
Extreme Fire Conditions Prompt Restrictions
The Cottonwood Fire, which began Monday, has severely damaged the Eagle Point ski resort in Beaver County, leading to mandatory evacuations. The smoke plume from the fire has been visible for hundreds of miles, reaching into Colorado. State forester Jamie Barnes described the current fire behavior as unlike anything seen in recent memory, with fires spreading faster and in ways that defy historical expectations.
Much of Utah is experiencing severe to extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, with parts of Arizona and Colorado also facing severe drought. The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City issued a rare "Particularly Dangerous Situation" warning for five Utah counties, an alert typically reserved for tornado conditions. A red flag warning was also issued for most of the state, forecasting extreme fire conditions with winds gusting up to 50 mph (80 kph) and low humidity.
Governor Cox's order, which restricts fireworks through July 5, acknowledges that more than 75% of Utah's wildfires this season have been human-caused. The order grants the state forester authority to decide on fireworks displays within Utah communities.
Wider Regional Impact
Red flag warnings were also in effect for large portions of southeastern California, southern Nevada, and northwestern Arizona, with forecasts of strong winds and low humidity contributing to extreme wildfire risk through Saturday. Outdoor burning has been strongly discouraged.
In addition to the Cottonwood Fire, the Iron Fire, located about 70 miles (113 kilometers) southwest of Salt Lake City, had blackened 63 square miles (163 square kilometers) by Friday and was 26% contained. This fire led to the evacuation of Eureka, a town of approximately 1,000 residents, though residents were allowed to return Thursday. A wildfire near Sedona, Arizona, prompted some evacuations last weekend, burning several hundred acres in rugged terrain near Oak Creek Canyon.
Rocky Mountain Power has also issued a public safety power shutoff watch/warning for areas of central, southern, and eastern Utah throughout the weekend as a precautionary measure.