Wildfires rage across the Southwest as officials warn of ‘extremely critical’ conditions

Key Points:

• The National Weather Service has issued an "extremely critical risk" warning for fire weather across the Great Basin and Four Corners regions due to gusty winds, dry air, and dry thunderstorms, increasing the threat of wildfires in Utah, Nevada, and New Mexico.
• The Cottonwood Fire in Beaver County, Utah, has grown to over 92,000 acres with 0% containment after five days, fueled by low humidity and high winds, and has caused evacuations and damage to the Eagle Point ski resort.
• Other significant fires include the Wild Goose Fire (nearly 9,000 acres) and the Cherry and Iron Fires (over 70,000 combined acres) in Utah, the McCauley Springs Fire in New Mexico (716 acres, 25% contained), the Grapevine and Kane Springs Fires in Nevada, and the Pocket Fire in Arizona (2,114 acres, no containment).
• Emergency resources are stretched thin in Utah as multiple fires continue to spread, prompting statewide fireworks restrictions through July 5 by Governor Spencer Cox to reduce fire risks during the Fourth of July holiday.
• Power outages are planned in high-risk areas in Arizona to prevent fire ignitions, and parts of national forests and state parks have been closed due to fire danger, with evacuations ongoing in several communities.