92,000-Acre Fire and a Statewide Fireworks Ban: Utah's Fourth of July Is Already in Crisis

There may be more than just firecrackers lighting up the skies in the days ahead in the western U.S. Forecasters are warning that the wildfire danger will remain elevated through the week for the southwestern quadrant of the country. Here is a closer look at this hazard.

Wildfire Danger Remains Elevated Across Utah and the Southwest

Toasty temperatures, breezy conditions, and a lack of moisture will translate to a continuation of the wildfire threat across the Southwest. It has been a precarious situation in this corner of the nation in recent weeks as strong winds and low humidity levels fuel the ignition and spread of wildfires.

Several fires have hit the 10,000-acre mark in the last week alone. The bulk of the fire activity is happening in Utah. As of the Sunday update from Utah Fire Info, the Iron Fire burning southwest of Provo has scorched over 40,000 acres and is about 40% contained. In this same general region, the Cherry Fire has singed over 30,000 acres with no containment.

The Cottonwood Fire has been burning in south-central Utah since June 22. This inferno has burned over 92,000 acres and is not at all contained. As of Sunday, the Cottonwood Fire is now the largest active blaze in the country. This fire severely damaged the popular Eagle Point ski resort while also destroying several cabins. Local officials are still conducting damage assessments as the flames rage.

Powerful winds have amplified the spread of these fires, presenting challenges for firefighters trying to get the existing blazes under control while also preventing the ignition of new events. The high winds have also carried the smoke hundreds of miles downstream, resulting in poor air quality conditions across the region.

Unfortunately for the fire-weary region, the long-range forecast is signaling that the elevated fire danger will persist through the coming week and into the long holiday weekend. A train of moisture-starved storms will move inland from the Pacific Ocean to the east into the Rockies. The energy associated with these storms will whip up the winds; however, there will be little rain to show for it. In addition, the dry thunderstorms could generate frequent lightning strikes, triggering the threat of more wildfires across the parched landscape.

This dry and windy pattern is forecast to linger through the week for the Southwest. Those with outdoor plans should pay heed to local burn restrictions, exercising extreme caution when working with open flames. This warning is particularly important as the Fourth of July holiday approaches.

It is going to be a bummer of a holiday for Utah. Gov. Spencer Cox issued temporary statewide fireworks restrictions through at least Sunday, July 5. The areas of the Beehive State facing the greatest threat of wildfires have been put under additional local restrictions. Residents and visitors should check the rules in their area before lighting off any type of firework or building a campfire.

Hazardous Air Quality Conditions Could Expand Hundreds of Miles

The immediate wildfire impact zone will not be the only area dealing with the hazards of this weather pattern. The thick smoke generated by the fires could travel thousands of miles, impacting millions of Americans in its path. The greatest danger will be in communities positioned downwind of the active fires. Poor air quality conditions tend to peak during the morning and evening hours when smoke hovers closer to ground level.

The smoke circulating in the upper levels of the atmosphere is expected to spread to the east, filtering into the Rockies, the Plains, and the Midwest. The Colorado Front Range will be in the danger zone of times of hazy skies and reduced air quality throughout the week. Those in the central Plains states may see colorful sunrises and sunsets even if the smoke is not entirely visible.

The rash of wildfires in Utah in recent weeks is being blamed on the state's record-low snowpack. The state is also coming off its warmest winter on record, amplifying the wildfire danger.

Red flag warnings are in place in areas from California to Arizona to New Mexico. A new wildfire began over the weekend just south of Grand Canyon National Park. Although the flames were moving away from the community of Tusayan and Grand Canyon Village on Sunday, local officials cut off power in an effort to reduce the risk of further spread.

While it seems like fire activity has ramped up early this year, meteorologists began warning weeks ago that the Southwest would be the nation's hot zone for wildfire development through the first half of the summer. Conditions should hopefully improve later in the season when the North American monsoon season fires up and delivers more meaningful moisture to the dry vegetation.

At that point, the majority of the wildfire activity will move to the north and the west, impacting California and the Pacific Northwest. We will continue to be your source of information about the persistent summer threat of wildfires across the country.

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