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Utah Governor Declares Emergency Amid Wildfire Crisis
26 Jun
Summary
- Utah's governor declared a state of emergency and restricted fireworks.
- The Cottonwood Fire, uncontained, spans nearly 111 square miles.
- A rare extreme weather warning was issued for Utah by the NWS.
Utah's governor has declared a state of emergency, implementing temporary fireworks restrictions through July 5th due to severe wildfire conditions. This measure comes as the nation's largest wildfire, the Cottonwood Fire in southern Utah, has expanded to nearly 111 square miles and remains entirely uncontained. Forestry officials report that this fire is spreading farther and faster than historical expectations.
The National Weather Service has issued a rare "Particularly Dangerous Situation" warning for Utah, typically reserved for tornado threats. Extreme fire conditions are anticipated with wind gusts up to 50 mph and low humidity. Other western states, including parts of California, Nevada, and Arizona, are also under red flag warnings due to high wildfire risks.
In addition to the Cottonwood Fire, the Iron Fire southwest of Salt Lake City has burned 63 square miles and is 26% contained, prompting evacuations in Eureka. The widespread dry and windy conditions are contributing to a dangerous fire environment across the western United States, impacting multiple states.
