The Cottonwood fire in Utah's Fishlake National Forest has expanded to over 92,000 acres (37,000 hectares) as of Saturday morning, with firefighters struggling to contain the blaze amid low humidity and strong winds. The fire, which started on Monday, grew by 20,000 acres overnight, according to the US Forest Service. It remains at 0% containment and is currently the largest active wildfire in the United States, as reported by the National Interagency Fire Center.
Fire Details and Impact
The blaze has caused property damage at a ski resort in Beaver County and led to the closure of the national forest. No injuries or casualties have been reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Residents north-east of the fire, including those in the small town of Marysvale, have been warned about unhealthy air quality due to smoke.
Authorities expect slightly improved weather on Saturday but caution that afternoon conditions may bring extreme fire behavior due to rising temperatures and wind speeds.
Historic Wildfire Season in Utah
Utah is experiencing an unprecedented wildfire season. Two additional fires near Eureka, about 80 miles (130 km) south of Salt Lake City, have consumed approximately 70,000 acres combined, 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 fire spread and life-threatening conditions.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox has implemented temporary restrictions on firework use statewide ahead of the Fourth of July, which marks 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. Our firefighters have been working around the clock, our resources are stretched, and we cannot afford preventable ignitions during the days ahead.”
According to a state government dashboard, Utah has had 380 fires this year, with humans responsible for 273 of them.
