Overview
- Governor Spencer Cox issued a state of emergency and a temporary fireworks restriction through July 5 on Thursday to limit avoidable ignitions ahead of Independence Day.
- The Cottonwood Fire in Beaver County expanded rapidly and was 0% contained by Friday, becoming the largest active wildfire in the United States and forcing evacuations and property losses.
- State officials moved Utah to Stage 2 fire restrictions that ban open fires on state and public lands and reported more than 1,000 personnel fighting fires with specialized Type 1 crews depleted.
- Authorities say roughly 75% of this season’s fires are human-caused, prompting investigations and some arrests, and the emergency order gives the state forester temporary authority to restrict fireworks inside municipalities while allowing limited safe zones and licensed displays.
- The National Weather Service issued a rare Particularly Dangerous Situation red flag warning for parts of Utah, forecasts called for gusts up to about 50 mph, and utilities issued public-safety power-shutoff watches as officials urged residents to attend professional shows and avoid personal fireworks.