Cottonwood Fire Grows Rapidly Near Beaver With No Containment Yet

The Cottonwood Fire burning on the Fishlake National Forest near Beaver continued to grow rapidly Wednesday, reaching 59,613 acres with no containment reported as firefighting efforts intensified across the incident.

Great Basin Incident Management Team 5 assumed command of the fire at 6 a.m. Wednesday. The wildfire, which started June 22 and remains under investigation, exhibited extreme fire behavior Tuesday due to drought conditions, high temperatures and critically dry fuels.

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Firefighters worked through the night constructing fireline in the City Creek area and around portions of the fire's perimeter. Crews on the east side are focusing on structure protection and additional fireline construction, while firefighters on the west side are using newly established fireline as an anchor point for continued containment efforts. Around-the-clock operations are now in place, with both day and night shifts providing 24-hour fire coverage.

Courtesy U.S. Forest Service

Rocky Mountain Power crews are working to remove downed power lines along State Highway 153 and are clearing vegetation around power infrastructure ahead of the fire. Multiple aircraft have been assigned to support suppression efforts, and a structure assessment team is being organized to assist local officials in evaluating homes and other buildings that could be threatened.

Community Meeting Planned For Thursday Evening

Fire officials announced plans for a community meeting to provide residents with an update on the fire and answer questions. The meeting is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, June 25, at 7 p.m. A location has not yet been announced. Residents are encouraged to monitor the Fishlake National Forest and Utah Fire Info Facebook pages for updates.

Weather conditions are expected to remain dry and warm over the next several days, although higher humidity and the possibility of thunderstorms could slightly reduce fire activity. Officials caution that fire behavior remains heightened despite some overnight moderation.

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Courtesy U.S. Forest Service

Fishlake National Forest closures remain in effect, and State Highway 153 is closed in both directions. Residents should continue monitoring official sources for evacuation and fire information.