Extreme heat and dry, windy conditions have ignited numerous wildfires across the Western United States. On Sunday, one significant wildfire in Utah led to the evacuation of Eureka, a small town southwest of Salt Lake City. Known as the Iron Fire, it started on Saturday in Juab County and has scorched 34 square miles (87 square kilometers) so far.
Located about 70 miles (113 kilometers) from Salt Lake City, this fire forced the evacuation of approximately 1,000 residents in Eureka and those on a nearby ranch. Remarkably, no homes have been lost. According to Utah Fire Info, a multiagency effort, firefighters conducted a successful backburn to safeguard the town. Kelly Wickens from the Utah Division of Forestry Fire and State Lands noted that the fire continues to grow due to drought conditions. The fire, caused by human activity, is still under investigation.
Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox visited Eureka on Sunday. He acknowledged the extreme fire danger, stating, “We knew that there was going to be extreme fire danger, and sure enough we had multiple fires.” The Iron Fire is just one of six wildfires in Utah with various containment statuses.
In Arizona, a wildfire near Sedona necessitated evacuations over the weekend. This fire has burned around 300 acres (120 hectares) of rugged terrain near Oak Creek Canyon. As of Sunday afternoon, 300 fire personnel were battling the blaze, which remains uncontained. Evacuated residents have not yet been permitted to return home.
Across the Western U.S., temperatures from the Rockies to the Pacific coast were above average this weekend, with even hotter weather forecast for early this week. Prolonged dry and hot weather, combined with low humidity, heightens the risk of fires. Much of Utah and parts of Arizona and Colorado are facing severe to extreme drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
In Colorado, the state’s southwest corner was under a red flag warning by the National Weather Service until Monday, due to gusty winds and low humidity. Notably, extreme heat claimed the lives of three hikers in the Grand Canyon in two separate incidents last week. On Sunday, temperatures in the Southwest were expected to reach 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42.2 C) in Carlsbad, New Mexico.
Meanwhile, the Florida Forest Service reported that crews from across the state have almost contained several brush fires in western Miami-Dade County, Florida.