Key facts
- Wildfire activity has intensified across the western United States due to hot, dry, and windy weather.
- The Cottonwood Fire in southwest Utah has grown to over 144 square miles, destroying parts of a ski resort and cabins.
- Utah is experiencing severe wildfire conditions, exacerbated by a record-low snowpack and its warmest winter on record.
- Red flag warnings have been issued for much of the western U.S., including California, Arizona, and New Mexico.
- Power shut-offs have been implemented in parts of Arizona and Utah as a safety measure against wildfire risk.
Wildfire activity has intensified across the western United States, driven by consecutive days of hot, dry, and windy weather. These conditions have fueled flames in Utah, Arizona, and other states, with new fires emerging across the region.
The largest blaze, the Cottonwood Fire in southwest Utah, expanded significantly to over 144 square miles, burning through rugged terrain, canyons, and mountainsides. The fire has destroyed parts of a ski resort and summer cabins. Authorities in Beaver County are assessing the damage, while Governor Spencer Cox acknowledged the challenging conditions and thanked firefighting crews.
Firefighting efforts are hampered by the difficult terrain, making access for heavy equipment and engines challenging, according to Alyssa Mason, a spokesperson for the fire. The situation is compounded by Utah's record-low snowpack and its warmest winter on record, contributing to severe wildfire conditions.
Nationally, nearly 3 million acres have burned since the start of the year, exceeding the 10-year average. Forecasters have issued red flag warnings across a wide swath of the West, from California to Arizona and New Mexico, indicating critical fire weather.
In Arizona, a wildfire south of Grand Canyon National Park was moving away from Grand Canyon Village and Tusayan. However, another fire approximately 50 miles away prompted Coconino County to issue evacuation orders near Kendrick Mountain. Utility companies have initiated safety power shut-offs in affected areas to mitigate wildfire risk, a measure becoming more common in the West.