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Utah Wildfire Reaches Nearly 71,000 Acres
The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City issued a red flag warning Friday morning for much of central and southwest Utah. The warning covers the Cottonwood Fire near Beaver, which has burned nearly 71,000 acres since Monday.
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The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City issued a red flag warning Friday morning covering much of central and southwest Utah. The warning remains in effect through midnight Saturday and marks the first Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning in the office's history.
The Cottonwood Fire near the town of Beaver started Monday and had reached nearly 71,000 acres by Thursday. Officials said gusty winds and dry conditions could cause rapid fire growth in the area. Utah is also managing the Iron Fire, which started June 19 and came within days of destroying the town of Eureka.
That fire stood at 27 percent containment Friday morning.
Fire Restrictions Gov.
Spencer Cox issued an executive order Thursday banning fireworks statewide through July 5. The order covers the July 4 holiday, which marks the nation's 250th anniversary this year. Cox allowed cities and towns to designate limited safe areas for fireworks where conditions permit.
The city of Provo announced it would enforce a full citywide ban and would not create any designated safe zone. "This year is different," Provo Mayor Marsha Judkins said in a statement. " "Nothing about this decision was easy," Cox said in a statement issued by his office Thursday.
"This is unlike anything we've seen in recent memory.
