Utah's Cottonwood fire spreads overnight to cover 92,000 acres

Hundreds of firefighters in Utah are battling the rapidly spreading Cottonwood wildfire, which has consumed over 92,000 acres and remains at 0% containment. Low humidity and strong winds are accelerating the blaze, which erupted Monday in the Fishlake National Forest. State officials warn of "extreme fire behavior" as temperatures and wind speeds increase.

The fire is currently the largest burning in the United States. Property damage has been reported at a ski resort in Beaver County, and the national forest has been closed. Residents northeast of the fire, including in Marysvale, are experiencing "unhealthy" air quality due to smoke.

Utah is facing an unprecedented wildfire season. Two other fires near Eureka have burned about 70,000 acres, forcing evacuations. Governor Spencer Cox has implemented statewide firework restrictions ahead of the Fourth of July holiday. "We're seeing fires spread farther and faster under conditions that defy historical expectations," said Jamie Barnes, director of the Utah division of forestry, fire and state lands. "Our firefighters have been working around the clock, our resources are stretched, and we cannot afford preventable ignitions."

“

This is unlike anything we’ve seen in recent memory. 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.