Utah's Cottonwood fire spreads overnight to 92,000 acres
The Cottonwood fire in Utah has grown to 92,000 acres, becoming the largest currently burning wildfire in the US. No casualties have been reported, but it has damaged a ski resort and prompted air quality warnings.
Hundreds of firefighters in Utah are battling the Cottonwood wildfire, which expanded overnight to more than 92,000 acres (37,000 hectares) by Saturday morning. The fire is now the largest active wildfire in the United States, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
The blaze ignited on Monday, June 26, in the Fishlake National Forest in central Utah. It intensified overnight, growing from about 70,000 acres (28,000 hectares) to its current size. Containment stands at 0%.
No injuries or fatalities have been reported so far. The fire has caused property damage at a ski resort in Beaver County and led to the closure of the national forest.
Authorities expect slightly improved weather on Saturday but warn of “extreme fire behavior” in the afternoon due to rising temperatures and wind speeds. Residents northeast of the fire, including in the small town of Marysvale, have been warned about “unhealthy” air quality from smoke.
Utah is experiencing an unprecedented wildfire season this year. Two other fires near Eureka, about 80 miles (130 km) south of Salt Lake City, have collectively consumed about 70,000 acres, prompting evacuations.
The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City issued a rare red flag warning on Thursday for the Cottonwood fire, indicating a high risk of rapid spread and life-threatening conditions.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox imposed temporary restrictions on fireworks use statewide ahead of the Fourth of July, which will mark the 250th anniversary of American independence. “This is unlike anything we’ve seen in recent memory,” said Jamie Barnes, director of the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, in a Thursday news release. “We’re seeing fires spread farther and faster under conditions that defy historical expectations. Some of the fires we’ve responded to this year are behaving in ways veteran firefighters simply haven’t seen before.”
According to a state government dashboard, Utah has had 380 fires this year, with 273 caused by humans.
