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Cottonwood Fire triples in size prompting evacuations and highway closure

By Beau Lund · June 23, 2026 · 1 min read
AI-written from public sources Written by Utah News AI and quality-checked before publishing.
A desolate Utah highway disappears into a thick, orange-tinted haze of smoke and dust under a heavy sky, symbolizing an approaching wildfire and environmental danger.
Photo via AI illustration
The Cottonwood Fire in Beaver County has tripled in size overnight, leading to mandatory evacuations and highway closures. Drought conditions and high winds are driving the fire's rapid expansion.

Key takeaways

  • The Cottonwood Fire in Beaver County tripled in size overnight.
  • Mandatory evacuations have been issued for homes and campgrounds.
  • A highway in the mountainous area is completely closed due to the fire.
  • Drought conditions and wind gusts up to 50 mph are fueling the fire.

A wildfire burning in Utah has tripled in size overnight, resulting in mandatory evacuations for homes and campgrounds. The fire has also caused the complete closure of a highway within the mountainous area.

According to ABC News, the Cottonwood Fire in Beaver County began on Monday.

The rapid growth of the fire is being fueled by drought conditions and wind gusts reaching up to 50 mph.

The blaze has forced officials to implement mandatory evacuations for residents in nearby homes as well as those in campgrounds.

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