The Cottonwood Fire, burning within the Fishlake National Forest near Beaver, has expanded to an estimated 93,607 acres as of Sunday, June 28, 2026. The wildfire, which began on June 22, remains at 0% containment and continues to face extreme fire behavior driven by high temperatures and heavy winds.
Recent Acreage and Size Updates
According to updates from InciWeb, the fire's size was estimated at 93,607 acres during an incomplete infrared flight on Sunday. This follows a report from the U.S. Forest Service - Fishlake National Forest on Saturday, June 27, which placed the acreage slightly lower at 92,254 acres.
Fire Cause and Initial Growth
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. The fire first ignited on June 22, 2026, and experienced rapid growth fueled by incredibly dry fuels and weather conditions favorable to fire spread. First responders were forced to evacuate the fire area as early as June 23, according to InciWeb.
Increase in Firefighting Resources
Firefighting resources on the scene have increased significantly since the fire's inception. While a Saturday update from the U.S. Forest Service reported 873 total resources assigned to the incident, Sunday's data from InciWeb shows that total resources have climbed to 1,200.
Incident Management Team Leadership
The Great Basin Complex Incident Management Team 5 assumed command of the Cottonwood Fire on June 2 decades ago, specifically on June 24, 2026. The current incident command includes Trent Ingram as Incident Commander, with Wayne Rushing serving as IC-T and Gwen Sanchez as Deputy IC.
Extreme Weather and Wind Forecast
Extreme weather conditions have severely hampered suppression efforts. On Saturday, June 27, the U.S. Forest Service reported that low humidity and winds sustaining 35 mph led to extreme fire behavior and spread. For Sunday, officials warned of a red flag warning, with southwest winds expected to increase to 25 mph with gusts reaching up to 50 mph.
Temperature and Humidity Projections
Temperatures in the valleys are forecasted to reach the high 80s, while ridgetops will see temperatures in the high 60s. Humidity levels are expected to remain low, between 15% and 18%. While weather conditions were described as slightly better for fire behavior on Saturday compared to the previous day, officials warned that extreme behavior may still occur in the afternoon as heat and winds increase.
Fire activity has been particularly intense in certain drainages. The U.S. Forest Service reported that on Saturday, the greatest fire activity occurred in the North Fork drainage. Near Highway 153, firefighters were forced to disengage and scout new sections of the area due to extreme fire behavior while attempting to continue fireline construction.
Crews have also been working near the Silver King burn scar, where the fire burned into the southern flank of the area over the last two days. In contrast, fire behavior in Cottonwood Canyon was reported as less extreme on Saturday, allowing crews to engage in mop-up operations. On Sunday, firefighters working from Highway 153 engaged in direct extinguishment tactics as they pushed toward Lion Flat.
The fire is impacting a variety of vegetation and ecosystems. The area is currently under a fuels and fire behavior advisory. At higher elevations, the fire involves timber understory with dead down fuels intermixed with bug-killed standing dead wood. At lower elevations, the fuels transition to mountain mahogany, gamble oak, and sagebrush. The lowest elevations consist of grass and sagebrush.
These fuels have been critically dry and are continuing a drying trend. Smoke from the fire is expected to impact air quality to unhealthy levels at times, particularly in the Marysvale area.
Road closures and evacuations are currently in effect. State Highway 153 is closed in both directions. Residents are advised to monitor the Piute County Sheriff's Office for Piute County evacuation information and Beaver County officials for Beaver County updates.
An evacuation center has been established at the National Guard Armory, located at 120 S Main St, Beaver, UT.
A community meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 29, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. to provide residents with a fire overview and answer questions. The meeting will be held in person at Beaver High School, located at 195 E Center St, Beaver, UT. For those unable to attend in person, the U.S. Forest Service - Fishlake National Forest will provide a live feed via Facebook.
