Utah declares emergency, limits fireworks ahead of July Fourth as crews battle largest U.S. wildfire

Key Points:

• Utah declared a state of emergency and imposed temporary fireworks restrictions through July 5 in response to extreme wildfire conditions, including the rapidly expanding Cottonwood Fire, which has burned over 112 square miles and remains at 0% containment.
• The National Weather Service issued a rare "Particularly Dangerous Situation" warning for five Utah counties due to dry, windy conditions fueling wildfire growth, with red flag warnings extending across much of the western U.S.
• The Cottonwood Fire has forced mandatory evacuations, severely damaged the Eagle Point ski resort, and prompted officials to warn 1,300 residents in nearby towns to prepare for possible evacuation as smoke spreads hundreds of miles.
• Utah has experienced 376 wildfires this year, with humans causing most of them, leading Governor Spencer Cox to grant state forester Jamie Barnes authority to restrict fireworks statewide to prevent further ignitions.
• Widespread drought and extreme fire conditions persist across Utah and neighboring states, with officials nationwide urging caution and some closing public lands and campgrounds near active fires to mitigate risks during the July Fourth holiday.