The Cottonwood Fire has burned more than 93,000 acres across Piute and Beaver counties since its ignition on June 22, 2026, leaving the Eagle Point Resort heavily damaged and prompting Governor Spencer Cox to warn that the blaze could be the most destructive in Utah's history.
Fire growth and containment status
The fast-moving wildfire, which began near Cottonwood Campground, rapidly expanded from 10,000 acres on its first day to over 60,000 acres by June 24. As of late June, the fire had reached a burned area of approximately 93,606 acres with zero percent containment reported as of June 28.
Cause and regional impacts
While the specific cause remains under investigation, officials have determined that the fire was not naturally caused and is of human origin. The blaze has significantly impacted the region, causing power outages across Piute County and forcing the closure of large portions of the Fishlake National Forest through December 31, 2026.
Evacuation orders and timeline
The fire's progression forced a series of rapid evacuations throughout the first week of the blaze. On June 22, Beaver County issued a Wireless Emergency Alert to residents in the HiLo mountain cabin community, advising them to evacuate by 12:14 p.m. as State Route 153 was closed.
Destruction at Eagle Point Resort
As the fire intensified, evacuation orders expanded to include Eagle Point Resort and the Arrowhead Summer Homes area. By 7:30 p.m. that same day, notices were extended to Merchant Valley residents, who were ordered to evacuate by 9:00 p.m. as the fire grew to 4,000 acres overnight.
Damage assessments and resort closure
The destruction at Eagle Point Resort has been particularly severe. Officials confirmed that the fire tore through many condos and cabins, causing significant structural damage to the facility. Security camera footage from a nearby home captured the fire actively burning down parts of the resort.
Due to this level of impact, officials announced that Eagle Point Resort is closed and will remain closed in the future. While 160 structures were threatened during the initial surge of the fire, comprehensive damage assessments for all properties have not yet been conducted by crews.
Extreme weather and fire behavior
The extreme fire behavior included the production of several pyrocumulonimbus clouds as the blaze grew. By June 24, a particularly dangerous situation warning was issued by the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City for five counties, including the area surrounding the active fire.
By June 25, the fire had surpassed 70,000 acres and continued to grow through the night, primarily moving several miles north into the North Fork Drainage. The intensity of the spread forced crews to disengage from direct combat efforts in certain areas because conditions had become too dangerous.
In response to the ongoing threat, several communities were placed under level one 'ready' evacuation status. This included Marysvale, Circleville, and Junction. However, Piute County Emergency Management later lifted the ready status for Circleville and Junction as fire conditions shifted.
On June 26, 2026, a community meeting was held at Piute High School at 7:00 p.m. to provide updates to local residents. Utah Fire Info shared a recording of this community meeting, which featured live updates from the U.S. Forest Service - Fishlake National Forest.
The environmental impact of the Cottonwood Fire has extended far beyond the immediate burn perimeter. Heavy smoke from the fire has been visible via satellite impacting much of Eastern Utah and Colorado, with reports of poor air quality and reduced visibility in Moab.
The wildfire outbreak also contributed to a statewide fireworks ban issued by the Governor to mitigate further risks during the July 4th holiday period, a move that has faced some backlash from residents.
