Utah Issues First Ever ‘Red Flag’ Weather Warning as Wildfires Rage
A historic red-flag warning was issued for Utah amid high winds and dry conditions, prompting a state of emergency and a temporary ban on personal fireworks.
The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City issued a "particularly dangerous situation" red-flag warning, the first of its kind in the agency’s history, as wind gusts of 40-50 mph combined with hot, dry air created conditions ripe for rapid wildfire spread. Meteorologist Chase Thomason of KUTV warned that any new fire could expand quickly and become hard to control.
Governor Spencer Cox declared a state of emergency and ordered a temporary prohibition on personal fireworks until July 5, citing the heightened fire risk. The executive order allows the state forester to suspend a 2024 law that normally prevents statewide fireworks bans, while still permitting local fire chiefs to designate specific areas where fireworks may be used if conditions permit.
"It’s not about taking decisions away from local communities. In fact, we want to put local knowledge at the center of this process," Cox said at a press conference. "We think this strikes the right balance," he added.
State data show nine active wildfires burning across more than 143,000 acres, with a total of 373 fires reported this year, the majority of which were human-caused. Among them, the Cottonwood fire, discovered on Monday, has burned nearly 72,000 acres and remains uncontained, leading to the closure of Eagle Point ski resort and damage to nearby structures.
Smoke from the blazes continues to drift across the region, lowering air quality at popular destinations such as Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks.
