Extreme heat combined with dry, windy conditions fueled multiple wildfires across the Western United States on Sunday, including an uncontained blaze in Utah that prompted the evacuation of a small town southwest of Salt Lake City.
Iron Fire in Utah Forces Evacuations
The Iron Fire in Utah’s Juab County was first detected Saturday and had scorched 34 square miles (87 square kilometers), according to authorities. The fire, located about 70 miles (113 kilometers) southwest of Salt Lake City, forced the evacuation of Eureka, a town of approximately 1,000 residents, as well as people at a nearby ranch.
No homes had been lost as of Sunday. Utah Fire Info, a multiagency operation, reported on X that firefighters successfully conducted a backburn operation to protect the town.
Kelly Wickens, a fire prevention specialist with the Utah Division of Forestry Fire and State Lands, warned that the fire continued to grow amid drought conditions. Wickens stated that the fire was human-caused and remains under investigation.
Governor Responds to Multiple Fires
Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox visited Eureka on Sunday. “We knew that there was going to be extreme fire danger, and sure enough we had multiple fires,” Cox said.
The Iron Fire was one of six fires burning across Utah at varying levels of containment.
Red Flag Warnings in Colorado and Arizona
In neighboring Colorado, the southwest corner of the state was under a red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service until Monday due to gusty winds and low relative humidity.
A wildfire near Sedona, Arizona, prompted evacuations over the weekend, burning approximately 300 acres (120 hectares) of steep and rugged terrain near Oak Creek Canyon. As of Sunday afternoon, the fire remained uncontained, and evacuated residents were still not allowed to return home.
Extreme Heat and Drought Across the West
Much of the Western U.S., from the Rockies to the Pacific coast, experienced above-average temperatures this weekend, with even hotter weather anticipated for early next week. Officials warned that prolonged dry, hot weather and relatively low humidity increased fire danger.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, much of Utah is experiencing severe to extreme drought, while parts of Arizona and Colorado are in severe drought.
Heat-Related Deaths and Other Fires
Extreme heat claimed the lives of three hikers in two separate incidents last week at the Grand Canyon. Temperatures were expected to climb in the Southwest on Sunday, with a forecast of up to 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42.2°C) in Carlsbad, New Mexico.
Meanwhile, a brush fire in Miami-Dade County, Florida, spread across 2,000 acres (800 hectares) on Saturday.
