Utah Wildfire Crisis Expands

A wildfire of epic proportions is tearing through Utah, fueled by record-breaking heat, bone-dry air, and 45-mph winds that are grounding firefighting aircraft and sending flames racing through treetops. The Cottonwood Fire has scorched over 112 square miles, destroyed the Eagle Point ski resort, and forced evacuations as ash rains down and skies darken. Governor Cox has declared a state of emergency and banned fireworks through July 5th. The extreme fire weather — the worst Utah’s seen in five years — is expected to last at least 48 hours, with similar red flag warnings stretching from Idaho to Arizona and New Mexico. In Arizona, Grand Canyon officials warn of possible power shutoffs to prevent fires, urging visitors to download emergency info. Across the West, nearly three million acres have burned this year — more than the 10-year average — as drought-stricken states like Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona brace for more extreme fire behavior. Experts stress that human-caused fires are the main culprit, and even in Florida, officials are urging people to avoid fireworks — any spark in dry conditions can start a wildfire. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/1ae7c51c70441ea2