Firefighters in Utah are battling a wildfire that has expanded by an additional 20,000 acres (8,000 hectares) since Saturday, driven by low humidity and strong winds, state officials said.
The Cottonwood blaze ignited on Monday in central Utah’s Fishlake National Forest. Overnight, it surged from roughly 70,000 acres (28,000 hectares) to over 92,000 acres (37,000 hectares) by Saturday morning, the U.S. Forest Service reported. With zero containment, it is presently the largest active fire in the United States, per the National Interagency Fire Center.
No injuries or fatalities have been reported. While the cause remains under investigation, the fire has damaged property at a ski resort in Beaver County and forced the closure of the national forest.
Officials anticipate modestly better weather on Saturday, yet caution that rising temperatures and winds could trigger extreme fire behavior later in the day.
Residents northeast of the fire, including those in the town of Marysvale, have been advised of unhealthy air quality due to smoke from the blaze.
Utah faces an unprecedented wildfire season. Two fires near Eureka, roughly 80 miles (130 km) south of Salt Lake City, have together burned 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, signaling a high risk of rapid spread and life‑threatening conditions.
Ahead of the Fourth of July—marking the 250th anniversary of American independence—Governor Spencer Cox imposed temporary statewide restrictions on fireworks use.
“This is unlike anything we’ve seen in recent memory,” said Jamie Barnes, director of Utah’s Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, in a Thursday news release following the fireworks moratorium announcement.
“We’re seeing fires spread farther and faster under conditions that defy historical norms,” she continued. “Some of this year’s blazes behave in ways veteran firefighters have never encountered. Our crews are working around the clock, resources are stretched thin, and we cannot tolerate preventable ignitions in the days ahead.”
State data show Utah has recorded 380 fires this year, with humans responsible for 273 of them.
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