Cottonwood

Fire Start, Size and Growth

Start Date/Time/Location: The Cottonwood Fire ignited around 12:09 p.m. on Monday, June 22, 2026. It started near the Cottonwood Campground in the Fishlake National Forest, approximately 5 miles east of Beaver, Utah, spanning portions of Beaver and Piute counties.
Size and Containment: As of the latest reports over the last 72 hours, the fire has burned 97,464 acres and is currently 90% contained.
Fuels, Growth and Rate of Spread: The fire has been primarily fueled by ponderosa pine, oak, sagebrush, and dry grasses. Driven by high temperatures, strong winds, and extremely dry vegetation, the fire exhibited extreme behavior early on, growing past 10,000 acres in a few hours on its first day and surpassing 60,000 acres within 48 hours. The rapid expansion was severe enough to produce massive pyrocumulonimbus clouds.
Containment Efforts: A unified response involving over 1,000 personnel, including hotshot crews, heavy equipment operators, helicopters, and air tankers, has been engaged. With the fire now at 90% containment, crews have shifted their primary focus to critical suppression repair, hazard tree removal, and infrastructure assessments.

Emergency Information

Evacuations and Sheltering:
Mandatory Evacuation Orders: Level 3 "Go" evacuation orders remain in effect for several areas, including HiLo Estates, Merchant Valley, Eagle Point Resort, and Arrowhead Summer Homes.
Evacuation Warnings: Residents in the surrounding Beaver area and communities east of Beaver City are advised to remain on high alert and avoid all roads leading toward the fire area.
Curfew: No curfews have been officially reported for the evacuated areas at this time.
Evacuation Shelters and Information: A Red Cross shelter was established at the Beaver armory to assist those displaced by the fire. Evacuees have been instructed to travel east toward the town of Junction.

Road and Infrastructure Closures:

• State Route 153 (UT-153) is closed near Mile Marker 5.
• Extensive closure orders cover the fire area, including roads and trails within the Fishlake National Forest and the B Mountain region.
• Recreational businesses, summer camps, and campgrounds in the affected region remain closed to the public to support ongoing emergency operations.

For more information, visit:

• Utah Fire Info
• Beaver County Emergency Management
• Fishlake National Forest - U.S. Forest Service

Current Impact

Impacts:
Injuries and Fatalities: Fortunately, there have been zero reported injuries or fatalities associated with the Cottonwood Fire.
Structures Impacted: The fire has been highly destructive, destroying approximately 150 structures, including homes, cabins, RVs, and outbuildings. However, thanks to defensible space and mitigation efforts, firefighters successfully saved another 130 structures.
School and Business Closures: Recreational businesses, summer camps, and campgrounds in the affected Fishlake National Forest region remain closed.
Notable Impacts: The Eagle Point Ski Resort suffered extensive damage, losing over 100 condos and 30 cabins, as well as sustaining damage to four of its five chairlifts. Conversely, the Tushar Campground and its 4-H summer camp survived as "islands of hope" due to years of proactive forest treatments and brush-clearing efforts.

Safety Concerns:
Power Outages: Energy and local infrastructure in the burn areas have been threatened and impacted, though widespread residential outages are currently stable.
Water Safety: Recent monsoonal rains have prompted flash flood watches for the North Creek area. Residents should remain alert to changing weather conditions and potential debris flows or mudslides in severely burned areas.
Burn Bans: A statewide fireworks ban was previously issued by the governor due to the severe wildfire outbreak. Strict fire restrictions remain in place for the Fishlake National Forest.
Air Quality: Smoke from the Cottonwood Fire has significantly impacted air quality across multiple states, causing poor air quality and smoke visibility in cities like Salt Lake City, Moab, and into neighboring Colorado.

Ongoing Outlook

Containment Projections: The fire stands at 90% containment. While recent monsoonal moisture temporarily subdued fire activity, a distinct drying trend is establishing itself over the area. As fuels dry out, unburned pockets within the fire's interior may begin to smolder, and isolated areas of smoke may become visible again. Crews will continue suppression repair and monitor for hotspots.
Weather and Wind Warnings: Over the last 72 hours, severe thunderstorms rolled in, temporarily halting suppression repair due to dangerous working conditions. The recent rainfall has triggered flash flood watches, as storms over severely burned slopes can send mud, rocks, and ash into roads and streams. A warmer, drier trend is expected to set in over the coming days.

Cause and the Role of Weather and Climate

Cause: The exact cause of the Cottonwood Fire remains under investigation; however, officials have determined it is not naturally caused and is of human origin.
Weather and Climate: The fire was fueled by a winter of below-average snowpack followed by an unusually warm and dry start to the summer. Multi-day red flag conditions, high winds, and severe drought left the landscape highly susceptible to rapid fire spread, leading the National Interagency Fire Center to raise the country to National Preparedness Level 5 earlier this month.

For more information, visit:

• Utah Fire Info
• Beaver County Emergency Management
• Fishlake National Forest - U.S. Forest Service