By Samantha Moilanen
Gov. Spencer Cox called it “some of the worst fire conditions in our state’s history.”
The dangerous weather conditions forecasters warned about Friday sent the Cottonwood Fire racing across another 20,000 acres overnight.
The blaze, as of early Saturday, had burned 92,254 acres near Beaver since igniting Monday, according to Great Basin Incident Management Team 5, which is leading firefighting efforts.
That places it at about 144 square miles, roughly the size of Philadelphia.
Fueled by strong winds and critically dry conditions, fire officials said the blaze remains 0% contained. A containment figure marks the percentage of a fire’s perimeter where crews feel confident flames won’t cross.
In a grim update late Friday, at the second public meeting in as many days, firefighters told residents gathered at Piute High School in Junction that they couldn’t keep up with its explosive growth.
“This is my home,” said Nick Schenck, the Cottonwood Fire’s initial attack commander, with Great Basin Incident Management Team 5. “It moved way too fast for us to do anything. We did everything we absolutely could. We called for every bit of help we could find. And about all we could do was get people out of the way of this thing.”
Gov. Spencer Cox, on X, described Friday’s weather as “some of the worst fire conditions in our state’s history,” saying the dangerous winds grounded firefighting aircraft and pushed several fires beyond the reach of direct attack.
Southwest of Utah Lake, the separately burning Iron Fire, which ignited June 19 and previously forced Eureka residents to evacuate, is now burning about 40,000 acres. That’s right alongside the newly burning Cherry Fire, which sparked Friday and ballooned to about 30,000 acres.
Evacuations orders are in place for several nearby communities, including the town of Eureka again.
“More evacuations. More property destroyed. It’s as bleak as it’s ever been,” Cox wrote, “… and yet there were several miraculous stops and saves. More than 1000 firefighters are exhausted and working around the clock .… and we didn’t lose anyone.”
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Cottonwood Fire burns above Beaver before sunrise on Friday, June 26, 2026.
Schenck said the fire’s northwest flank, near Highway 153, remains the crews’ biggest “headache.”
There, crews were forced to retreat Friday when flames became too intense to safely continue building containment lines, according to Great Basin Incident Management Team 5. Firefighters plan to return Saturday with dozers and hand crews to strengthen lines where conditions allow.
On Saturday, the forecast was a bit more favorable, with cooler temperatures in the 80s expected, plus higher humidity levels, fire officials said. Along the ridgetops, temps dipped into the 60s.
But officials warned extreme fire behavior could still develop as temperatures rise and winds pick up speed.
As a precaution, Rocky Mountain Power began shutting off electricity Friday morning in parts of Beaver, Cedar City and Milford to reduce the risk of additional wildfires. The public safety power shutoffs are expected to go through Sunday.
As damage assessments continue, residents concerned about their homes or belongings can share their information with the Beaver County Sheriff’s Office to receive updates. Although the contact form is labeled as a witness statement, authorities said it’s being used to notify property owners once crews determine whether structures were damaged.
On Saturday, Piute County officials said law enforcement and fire crews early Sunday planned to escort some people up the City Creek side of the mountain to retrieve camp trailers. It’s not an opportunity to check on cabins, officials said.
For residents with livestock, the sheriff’s office said Kane County is offering temporary space for animals under evacuation orders or warnings.
The American Red Cross of Utah on Friday said the Cottonwood Fire had destroyed at least 12 families’ primary homes. The Red Cross opened an emergency shelter at the Utah National Guard’s Beaver Armory, 120 S. Main St. in Beaver.
More emergency shelters may open in Panguitch (if Junction or Circleville are evacuated) and Monroe (if Marysvale is evacuated), the Red Cross has said.
On Thursday, Cox announced that the state will restrict fireworks statewide over Independence Day weekend through an executive order, citing a particularly destructive start to this year’s wildfire season.
Fire officials planned to hold another public meeting on the Cottonwood Fire starting at 7 p.m. Monday at Beaver High School.
NYA Thanks The Salt Lake Tribune!