Utah Declares State of Emergency and Bans Fireworks as Cottonwood Fire Expands

Utah officials declared a state of emergency on Friday and imposed a temporary ban on fireworks ahead of Independence Day as the Cottonwood Fire, the largest wildfire currently active in the United States, continued to spread across dry, windy forestland. The fire, which ignited on Monday in a sparsely populated area of southern Utah, had burned about 72,000 acres by Friday and remained at 0% containment, according to the state’s wildfire dashboard.

The National Weather Service issued a rare "Particularly Dangerous Situation" warning for five Utah counties, noting sustained winds of 35 miles per hour and gusts up to 45 miles per hour. The warning, typically reserved for severe tornado events, urged residents to "prepare now for rapid fire growth."

State forester Jamie Barnes said the fire’s behavior was unprecedented in recent memory, with flames spreading faster and farther than historical norms. As of Friday evening, Utah was coping with ten active wildfires covering more than 144,700 acres.

"We have the 35 miles-per-hour sustained winds that they predicted, and we definitely have the 45 miles-per-hour gusts," fire spokesperson Alyssa Mason said, adding that the conditions had led to extreme fire activity, including crown runs and spotting.

The smoke plume traveled hundreds of miles, reaching Colorado and creating haze over Bryce Canyon National Park. Authorities warned roughly 1,300 residents in the towns of Marysvale, Junction and Circleville to be ready to evacuate if the fire advanced.

Governor Spencer Cox’s order gave state forester Jamie Barnes authority to restrict or prohibit fireworks displays across Utah’s municipalities, extending the ban through July 5. Cox noted that the July 4 celebrations would be “different” this year because of the fire threat.

Red flag warnings, indicating high fire risk due to low humidity, warm temperatures and strong winds, were in effect across much of the western United States and were expected to continue into Saturday. The drought monitor reported severe to extreme drought conditions across much of Utah and neighboring states.

Utility provider Rocky Mountain Power issued a public safety power shut-off watch for central, southern and eastern Utah through the weekend. Federal land managers also closed public lands near the fire as a precaution.

The Cottonwood Fire’s cause remains under investigation, though officials noted that most wildfires in Utah this year have been human-caused, with 273 of 376 reported fires attributed to human activity.