Overview
- Three firefighters died and two were injured when five crew members were caught in a burnover while battling fires on the Utah–Colorado border.
- The largest blaze, the Cottonwood fire in Utah, has grown beyond 37,000 hectares and related fires have spread into Colorado where at least one fire exceeds 11,000 hectares.
- Colorado’s governor issued a state of emergency to speed resources and permit National Guard mobilization for suppression and logistics.
- Hot, dry fuels, low humidity and strong winds have driven extreme fire behavior that is hampering ground crews and aviation support.
- Thousands of local, state and federal firefighters remain engaged, containment is incomplete, and officials warn the situation may force more evacuations and sustained resource boosts.