Utah's National Weather Service in Salt Lake City declared a 'particularly dangerous situation red flag warning' for the first time in its history, as dangerous wildfires continue to spread across the state. The warning was issued amid extreme fire conditions, with wind gusts of 40-50+ mph, hot temperatures, and extremely dry air that could lead to explosive wildfire growth.
'THIS IS EXTREMELY RARE … Wind gusts of 40-50+ mph, combined with hot temperatures and extremely dry air, could cause explosive wildfire growth. Any new fire that starts could spread rapidly and become difficult to control,' said Chase Thomason, a meteorologist for KUTV, Utah's CBS affiliate.
State of Emergency and Fireworks Ban
On the same day as the red flag warning, Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced a state of emergency and a temporary prohibition on personal fireworks until July 5. The announcement comes as Utah experiences an unprecedented wildfire season, with blazes that have prompted evacuations in Eureka, a small town about 80 miles (130 km) south of Salt Lake City.
Under the governor's executive order, the state forester is allowed to ban the use of fireworks anywhere in the state. The order temporarily suspends a 2024 law that prevented the forester from banning fireworks in cities across Utah.
'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 during a Thursday press conference. He added that while the state's default position is that fireworks are prohibited, local fire chiefs and officials can still designate places where fireworks are allowed, if conditions permit. 'We think this strikes the right balance,' Cox said.
Current Wildfire Situation
As of Friday, Utah had nine active wildfires burning across more than 143,000 acres, according to the state's wildfire dashboard. So far this year, Utah has had 373 wildfires, with all but 100 of them caused by humans.
Among the current blazes is the Cottonwood fire, discovered on Monday and described by Cox as the most destructive fire in the state's history. It has burned nearly 72,000 acres and is at 0% containment, according to Utah fire info. The fire has forced the closure of Eagle Point Ski Resort and damaged several surrounding structures.
In addition to struggling to contain new ignitions, billowing smoke continues to blanket surrounding areas. Smoke columns remain high enough to be seen from around the state, affecting air quality at popular vacation spots such as Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, located far south of the flames.
Outlook and Regional Impact
More fire danger is expected as a heatwave blankets the west coast of the US, with troubling conditions for states such as Colorado and Arizona. The combination of extreme heat, dry conditions, and strong winds poses a continued threat for rapid fire spread across the region.
