A Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning was issued for parts of southwest Utah on Friday, June 26, 2026, as fire conditions worsened across the state. The warning, which went into effect at 9 a.m., covered a large area of southern and central Utah, including Richfield, Cedar City, and the Cottonwood Fire burn area.
The National Weather Service stated that this was the first Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning issued in the history of the NWS Salt Lake City office, calling it an exceptionally rare event.
Forecasters warned that under these conditions, any new or existing fires could spread very rapidly and create fire spots over long distances. The National Weather Service noted that the combination of high winds, low humidity, very dry fuels, and a large fire created a dangerous situation that could lead to life-threatening fire behavior.
At the time of the warning, wildfires had scorched over 154,000 acres across Utah during the season. The Cottonwood Fire was last mapped at over 71,000 acres and was zero percent contained as of June 26.
In response to the conditions, Governor Spencer Cox declared a state of emergency on Thursday, which included a statewide ban on fireworks ahead of the Independence Day holiday. Governor Cox stated that the decision was difficult but noted that firefighters were witnessing unprecedented fire behavior.
