MARYSVALE, Utah — Strong winds and critically dry conditions continued to hamper efforts on Saturday to contain the Cottonwood Fire in southwest Utah, the largest active wildfire in the United States, as firefighters battled flames across rugged terrain that has damaged structures and prompted evacuations, according to fire officials.
The fire has become a focal point in an already severe wildfire season across the U.S. West, where prolonged drought, record-low snowpack in parts of the region, low humidity and high temperatures have combined to create dangerous fire conditions. Utah officials have warned that stretched firefighting resources and persistent weather hazards are complicating suppression efforts, while red flag warnings remain in effect across portions of the state.
The Cottonwood Fire has burned more than 144 square miles (about 92,000 acres) in mountainous terrain in southern Utah, damaging the Eagle Point ski resort and destroying summer cabins in Beaver County, according to state officials and incident managers. Authorities said damage assessments were continuing, and an official estimate of homes destroyed was not yet available.
Fire crews said gusting winds periodically grounded helicopters and other aircraft, limiting aerial firefighting operations and forcing firefighters to adjust tactics on the ground. "Our biggest challenge right now is that we have single digit humidities and the wind gusts are around 45 miles per hour," Alyssa Mason, a spokesperson assigned to the fire, said. "That's on top of fuel moistures between 2 and 8 percent."
The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City issued a rare "particularly dangerous situation" red flag warning for parts of Utah, citing the combination of strong winds, very low humidity and extreme fire danger. Officials said the weather was expected to continue creating conditions favorable for rapid fire growth through the weekend.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox earlier this week declared a state of emergency and announced temporary statewide restrictions on fireworks ahead of the Independence Day holiday, saying extraordinary wildfire conditions had exhausted firefighting resources. In a social media post, Cox said, "It's as bleak as it's ever been ... and yet there were several miraculous stops and saves," while thanking firefighters and calling for rain.
Officials said evacuation orders and alerts remained in place for communities near the fire, including Marysvale, Junction and Circleville, while smoke affected air quality in surrounding areas. As of Saturday, firefighters continued suppression efforts where conditions allowed, and authorities said updated assessments of containment and damage would be released as operations continued.
