Intense Heat and Winds Ignite Wildfires Across Southwest US
WHO:
ABC News - Utah Gov. Spencer Cox described the situation as "bleak" and thanked crews for "several miraculous stops and saves."
ABC News - State Forester Jamie Barnes stated that the increase in wildfire starts has stretched the state’s wildland firefighting capabilities.
ABC News - Three firefighters were killed while responding to the Snyder Fire, and two others are being treated for burn injuries.
ABC News - Colorado Gov. Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency declaration in response to the Snyder Fire.
CBS News - Utah officials declared a state of emergency due to wildfires.
NBC News - Communities in Utah, Nevada, and New Mexico are on high alert.
WHAT:
ABC News - The Cottonwood Fire has grown to more than 144 square miles (373 square kilometers) and has destroyed part of a ski resort and other summer cabins.
ABC News - The Snyder Fire has burned an estimated 28,000 acres and is at 0% containment, triggering evacuation warnings for smaller communities in Mesa County, Colorado.
ABC News - The Cottonwood Fire has spread to about 92,254 acres with 0% containment.
ABC News - The Iron Fire is at about 41,467 acres with 38% containment.
ABC News - The Cherry Fire covers about 30,766 acres with 0% containment.
ABC News - The Cottonwood Fire has grown to more than 144 square miles (373 square kilometers) and has destroyed part of a ski resort and other summer cabins.
ABC News - Utah has seen an increase in wildfire starts over the past week, with each fire showing unprecedented behavior.
ABC News - The Snyder Fire has burned an estimated 28,000 acres and is at 0% containment.
ABC News - The Cottonwood Fire has spread to about 92,254 acres with 0% containment.
ABC News - The Iron Fire is at about 41,467 acres with 38% containment.
ABC News - The Cherry Fire covers about 30,766 acres with 0% containment.
ABC News - The Cottonwood Fire has grown to more than 144 square miles (373 square kilometers) and has destroyed part of a ski resort and other summer cabins.
ABC News - Nearly 3 million acres (1.2 million hectares) have burned nationally since the start of the year, exceeding the 10-year average.
CBS News - Several major wildfires are burning across the western U.S.
NBC News - Officials warned of "extremely critical" fire conditions in the Southwest.
WHERE:
ABC News - The Snyder Fire is burning along the Utah-Colorado border, originally starting in east Utah's Grand County and crossing into Colorado.
ABC News - The Cottonwood Fire is located in Utah's Paiute and Beaver counties.
ABC News - The Iron Fire and Cherry Fire are in Juab and Tooele counties, Utah.
CBS News - The wildfires are primarily affecting Utah.
NBC News - The affected regions include Utah, Nevada, and New Mexico.
WHY:
ABC News - The danger is even higher this year because of Utah's record-low snowpack and its warmest winter on record.
ABC News - The Snyder Fire combined with the smaller Jones and Knowles Fires in Mesa County, Colorado.
ABC News - Utah is experiencing one of the most severe wildfire seasons in recent history, driven by historic drought conditions and record-low snowpack.
CBS News - Scorching heat is fueling the flames of the wildfires.
NBC News - Dangerous fire conditions are threatening to worsen the blazes.
HOW:
ABC News - Hundreds of firefighters have been arriving in the arid state to battle new starts as well as those that have been growing due to critical fire weather.
ABC News - Authorities in Beaver County began working with fire teams to assess the extent of the damage from the Cottonwood Fire, but no estimates were immediately available.
ABC News - The U.S. Wildland Fire Service announced the deaths of the firefighters and emphasized their "bravery, dedication, and sacrifice."
ABC News - State officials reported an increase in wildfire starts over the past week, with each fire exhibiting unprecedented behavior, stretching the state’s wildland firefighting capabilities.
CBS News - High winds and heat are contributing to the out-of-control wildfires.
(UPDATED June 28, 2026 17:17 UTC)
The Cottonwood Fire has expanded to over 144 square miles and has already destroyed parts of a ski resort and several summer cabins, while the Snyder Fire has burned approximately 28,000 acres with no containment, prompting evacuation warnings in Mesa County, Colorado. Meanwhile, the Iron Fire is currently at about 41,467 acres with 38% containment, and the Cherry Fire covers around 30,766 acres, also with no containment. Firefighters are rushing to Utah to combat these wildfires, which are fueled by the state's record-low snowpack and its warmest winter on record, creating critical fire weather conditions.
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(UPDATED June 28, 2026 13:19 UTC)
The Cottonwood Fire in Utah has expanded to over 144 square miles, devastating parts of a ski resort and several summer cabins. Governor Spencer Cox described the situation as "bleak" and acknowledged the efforts of crews who have made "several miraculous stops and saves," while State Forester Jamie Barnes noted that the surge in wildfire starts has stretched the state's firefighting resources. Authorities in Beaver County are currently collaborating with fire teams to evaluate the damage caused by the fire, but no damage estimates have been released yet.
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(UPDATED June 28, 2026 09:53 UTC)
Tragedy struck as three firefighters lost their lives while battling the Snyder Fire, which has burned an estimated 28,000 acres and is currently at 0% containment along the Utah-Colorado border. In response to this emergency, Colorado Governor Jared Polis has declared a disaster, while the Cottonwood Fire has spread to about 92,254 acres with no containment, and the Iron Fire is at 41,467 acres with 38% containment. The U.S. Wildland Fire Service has honored the fallen firefighters, highlighting their bravery, dedication, and sacrifice in the face of these devastating wildfires.
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(UPDATED June 28, 2026 06:22 UTC)
The Cottonwood Fire has expanded to more than 144 square miles, destroying parts of a ski resort and several summer cabins in Utah, which is facing one of its most severe wildfire seasons in recent history. Nearly 3 million acres have burned across the nation since the start of the year, surpassing the 10-year average, as historic drought conditions and record-low snowpack contribute to the crisis. State officials have noted a rise in wildfire starts over the past week, with each fire displaying unprecedented behavior that is stretching the state’s wildland firefighting resources to their limits.
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(UPDATED June 28, 2026 04:18 UTC)
Utah officials have declared a state of emergency as several major wildfires rage across the western U.S., primarily affecting Utah but also putting communities in Nevada and New Mexico on high alert. Authorities are warning of "extremely critical" fire conditions in the Southwest, fueled by scorching heat and exacerbated by high winds. As these dangerous conditions threaten to worsen the blazes, residents are urged to stay vigilant and prepared.