Utah Governor Restricts Fireworks as Cottonwood Fire Grows to 111 Square Miles

Utah's governor declared a state of emergency and restricted fireworks through July 5 as the Cottonwood Fire expanded to nearly 111 square miles with zero containment. The fire, which began Monday in southern Utah, damaged the Eagle Point ski resort in Beaver County and prompted mandatory evacuations.

The National Weather Service issued its first-ever Particularly Dangerous Situation warning for five Utah counties, citing wind gusts up to 50 mph and low humidity. State officials said the alert, typically reserved for tornadoes, now applies to rapid wildfire growth across the southwest desert and central and southern mountains.

Rocky Mountain Power placed central, southern, and eastern Utah under a public safety power shutoff watch through the weekend.

The Iron Fire, located about 70 miles southwest of Salt Lake City, burned 63 square miles and reached 26 percent containment by Friday. That blaze forced the evacuation of Eureka and a nearby ranch before residents were allowed to return Thursday. Red flag warnings remained in effect Friday for southeastern California, southern Nevada, and northwestern Arizona, with winds forecast at 20 to 30 mph and gusts up to 50 mph.

Drought and Human-Caused Ignitions The U.S.

Drought Monitor shows severe to extreme drought across much of Utah and severe drought in parts of Arizona and Colorado. Officials noted that more than 75 percent of Utah wildfires this season have been human-caused.

“This is unlike anything we’ve seen in recent memory. We’re seeing fires spread farther and faster under conditions that defy historical expectations.”