Residents on notice as fast-moving fire in Utah, the largest in the U.S., blackens more forestland

By — Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/residents-on-notice-as-fast-moving-fire-in-utah-the-largest-in-the-us-blackens-more-forestland Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Residents on notice as fast-moving fire in Utah, the largest in the U.S., blackens more forestland Nation Updated on Jun 27, 2026 5:43 PM EDT — Published on Jun 27, 2026 11:16 AM EDT MARYSVALE, Utah (AP) — The largest fire in the United States is marching through deep canyons and over steep mountainsides, blackening an already parched landscape in Utah as residents of sparsely populated areas wait for word in case they have to evacuate. The Cottonwood Fire already has severely damaged the Eagle Point ski resort in Beaver County and forced campground closures in Fishlake National Forest. Other public lands in the area have been closed as a precaution. READ MORE: Heat, wind and drought conditions spark wildfires in the U.S. West Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, in a social media post early Saturday, asked for prayers for firefighters and "the rains we desperately need." "More property destroyed. It's as bleak as it's ever been ... and yet there were several miraculous stops and saves," Cox said, referring to the work of the hundreds of firefighters assigned to the blaze. They are among the crews that have been pouring into Utah as more wildfires in the arid state gain steam thanks to consecutive days of what forecasters call critical fire weather, or dangerously low humidity levels, warm temperatures and gusty winds. Utah is coming off a record-low snowpack and the warmest winter on record, which helped to elevate the fire danger. Much of the West is grappling with similar conditions, according to the National Interagency Fire Center, which reported that the lack of snow over the winter resulted in unusual fire activity early in the season. Nationally, nearly 3 million acres have burned since the start of the year, pushing the U.S. ahead of the 10-year average. From Alaska to Florida, crews were busy Saturday working to corral dozens of fires, including three dozen that were classified as large and uncontained. Firefighters brace for more wind Air tankers and helicopters took to the skies again Saturday, hoping to put a dent in the flames before afternoon winds kicked up again. On Friday, they were grounded because of weather conditions that prompted weather forecasters to issue a rare warning that highlighted a "particularly dangerous situation." "Weather conditions are slightly better for fire behavior today, but extreme fire behavior may occur in the afternoon as temperatures and wind speeds increase," the U.S. Forest Service said Saturday in a statement on Facebook. The fire ballooned to more than 144 square miles (373 square kilometers) on Saturday. The blaze prompted Cox to declare an emergency, and the state on Friday restrict