Cottonwood Fire Scorches 94,000 Acres in Utah as 150 Structures Burn and Containment Stalls at 4%
Updated
Updated · Deseret News · Jun 29
Cottonwood Fire Scorches 94,000 Acres in Utah as 150 Structures Burn and Containment Stalls at 4%
3 articles · Updated · Deseret News · Jun 29
Summary
Nearly 94,000 acres had burned in southwestern Utah by Monday evening, making the Cottonwood Fire the nation’s largest wildfire, with crews holding just 4% containment.
150 structures were destroyed after dry vegetation, high heat and extreme winds drove flames up to 100 feet and pushed the fire across 43,251 acres in a single day last Tuesday.
Beaver residents now face a long recovery as homes, cabins, condos and RVs were lost, and the fire also wiped out mountain power infrastructure, with PacifiCorp saying restoration has no timetable and will cost millions.
Historic and community landmarks were hit as well, including Big Tree — a 350-year-old Ponderosa Pine in the Tushar Mountains — underscoring officials’ warning that the burned area will look dramatically different.
Firefighters from across the West are working around the clock from tent camps near Beaver, where officials also urged support after three firefighters died responding to a separate Colorado blaze.
Utah's new fire codes were meant to save homes. Why did 150 structures still burn in the state's largest wildfire?
As a community grieves its 350-year-old 'Big Tree,' what happens when a wildfire destroys a region's ecological soul?
Utah’s Cottonwood Fire 2026: 100,000 Acres Burned, Over 100 Structures Lost, and the State’s Struggle to Recover
Overview
As of June 30, 2026, the Cottonwood Fire remains a major challenge, having spread across 43,251 acres and caused substantial destruction. Driven by extreme environmental conditions, the fire has led to the loss of more than 100 structures and pushed firefighting costs over $20 million. Efforts to control the blaze have been complicated by difficult weather and terrain, making containment harder. The scale of the fire highlights the severe impact of current environmental factors and the significant human and economic toll on affected communities.