14 Football Fields a Minute: Inside the Cottonwood Fire’s Explosive Spread

On today’s KSL News Daily, Maria Shilaos goes behind the fire line with Alex Cabrero, who has been covering the massive Cottonwood Fire near Beaver. Cabrero explains how the fire exploded with stunning speed, destroying cabins and homes, forcing difficult evacuations, and leaving families to confront the loss of places built over decades. He also breaks down the challenges of covering a fast-moving wildfire, from sorting fact from rumor to verifying images in the age of AI. The fire is also hitting nearby communities in a different way: cancellations. Cabrero says many businesses in Beaver, Junction, Circleville, Marysvale, and surrounding areas are still open and need visitors, even as Beaver Mountain remains closed and smoke hangs over parts of the region. Plus, University of Utah researchers identify a brain protein tied to Alzheimer’s progression, Utah gets ready for Independence Day flyovers and a 500-drone show at Jordan Park, and Before You Go brings a lighter look at Fourth of July memories, from sparklers and backyard barbecues to the songs that instantly feel like summer.