Wildfire activity has intensified across the western United States, as consecutive days of hot, dry and windy weather have fueled flames in Utah, Arizona and elsewhere. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
The largest blaze, the Cottonwood Fire, was burning in rugged terrain in southwest Utah. It ballooned Saturday to more than 144 square miles (373 square kilometers) after marching through canyons and mountainsides, destroying part of a ski resort and other summer cabins along the way.
Authorities in Beaver County began working with fire teams on Saturday to assess the extent of the damage, but no estimates were immediately available. Gov. Spencer Cox in a post on social media called it bleak, but he thanked crews for what he called "several miraculous stops and saves."
The cliffs and steep slopes have made the job even harder, said Alyssa Mason, a spokesperson assigned to the fire. "It's hard to get dozers and other heavy equipment into that. It's very challenging terrain," she said.
In addition to the Cottonwood Fire, the Horton Creek Fire in Arizona is also burning actively. Firefighters are struggling to contain the spread due to gusty winds. Several smaller fires have been reported in California.
The National Weather Service has warned that dry and windy conditions are expected to persist in the coming days, further increasing fire risk. Fire crews are working around the clock to prevent new ignitions.