Utah has declared a state of emergency as the western United States faces a significant fire risk, with at least 14 new wildfires erupting across the state in just 24 hours. According to ABC News, the declaration came as the National Weather Service warned of what it called a particularly dangerous situation.
Officials urged residents to have their go bags ready, warning that any new wildfire that sparks could be life-threatening, as crews fanned out across the state. The wave of new fires forced evacuations across several additional counties.
Among the new blazes, the Cherry Fire, formed when two wildfires merged overnight, burned more than 12,000 acres south of Salt Lake City. Officials shut off power in the area as a precaution.
The Cottonwood Fire, still listed at 0 percent contained, had scorched more than 71,000 acres, making it one of the most destructive fires in Utah's history.
Southwest of Salt Lake City, the Iron Fire burned more than 40,000 acres but reached 27 percent containment, allowing officials to lift some evacuation orders. Residents of Eureka were able to make an emotional return to their homes.
The National Weather Service placed eight states under red flag warnings, describing conditions over parts of Utah, especially southern Utah, as particularly dangerous. The threat was being worsened by extreme heat and dry conditions spreading across the country, from Texas toward the East Coast.
For residents in the fire zones, the toll was deeply personal, with families describing the loss of their homes and everything inside them. Officials warned that the elevated fire risk would persist across the region through the weekend.