Cottonwood Fire Grows in Utah

The Cottonwood Fire, now the largest in the country, has spread to nearly 100,000 acres in Utah and remains wholly uncontained.

On Saturday, Red Flag Warnings were issued across six states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, due to the fire’s rapid growth overnight.

Fire officials alerted the public that “extreme fire behavior may occur in the afternoon” as rising temperatures and increasing winds intensify conditions. The Red Flag Warning is set to remain in effect until Sunday.

As of Saturday morning, the significant fire encompassed around 92,254 acres.

Located near Beaver, Utah, a small city with about 4,000 residents, the fire has resulted in the loss of over 100 condos and cabins in the Eagle Point ski resort area, prompting closures in Fishlake National Forest and nearby public lands.

Mayor Matt Robinson of Beaver expressed his concerns, stating, “I am standing here looking out my back window and I am watching the flames burn across the face of the mountain range.” He described the situation as “emotional,” adding, “It’s really sacred ground … to watch it all disappear in a matter of a couple of days is pretty emotional.”

Shane Gadbaw, the ski resort owner, described his experience as they evacuated, saying, “On our way out, it was burning around us,” referring to the mountain as “a little hidden gem.”

Utah Governor Spencer Cox referred to the Cottonwood Fire as the “most destructive fire in the state’s history” based on property losses, although thankfully no injuries or deaths have been reported.

Reflecting on past fires, Governor Cox shared, “14 years ago today my own home was evacuated for a wildfire. I stood next to a dear friend as his new home and every worldly possession burned to the ground.” He continued, “Winds grounded aircraft and many fires moved too quickly… More evacuations. More property destroyed. It’s as bleak as it’s ever been.”

Cox praised the efforts of about 1,000 firefighters while urging support for them and for needed rain in the area.

Meteorologist Chase Thomason categorized this fire as the fourth largest wildfire in Utah’s history.

He advised, “Please continue to avoid the area, follow evacuation orders immediately if they are issued, and keep Utah’s firefighters in your thoughts as they battle one of the largest fires our state has ever seen.”

The governor has also been providing weekend updates about other wildfires within the state, including the Wild Goose Fire in the Great Basin, which is also uncontained.

As of Saturday afternoon, ten large wildfires were raging in Utah.