Cottonwood Fire Grows To Over 92000 Acres Near Beaver

The Cottonwood Fire continued to grow into Saturday morning, reaching 92,254 acres with no containment as nearly 900 personnel battled challenging conditions across the Fishlake National Forest near Beaver. The fire, which started June 22 and remains under investigation, is being fueled by dry conditions and strong winds that continue to hamper firefighting efforts.

Fire officials reported that the most significant activity Friday occurred in the North Fork drainage, where firefighters constructing fireline along State Highway 153 were forced to disengage because of extreme fire behavior before scouting new areas where they could safely resume operations. Crews will continue improving firelines near the highway today while also strengthening containment lines in the Silver King burn scar and along the southern flank of the fire. Firefighters also made progress mopping up hotspots in Cottonwood Canyon after fire behavior moderated somewhat in that area.

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Courtesy U.S. Forest Service

Weather conditions remain a major concern. Temperatures climbed into the 80s in the valleys, with southwest winds increasing to 25 mph and gusts reaching 50 mph. Officials warn that while conditions may be slightly less severe than Friday, extreme fire behavior could redevelop during the afternoon. Winds are forecast to shift to the north on Sunday, and temperatures are predictied to decrease by about ten degrees.

Community Meeting Scheduled For Monday In Beaver

Residents are invited to attend a community meeting on Monday, June 29, at 7:00 p.m. at Beaver High School, 195 East Center Street. Representatives from Great Basin Team 5 and local agencies will provide an update on firefighting efforts and answer questions from the public. The meeting will also be streamed live on the Fishlake National Forest Facebook page for those unable to attend in person.

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State Highway 153 remains closed in both directions, and forest closures continue to be in effect. An evacuation center has been established at the National Guard Armory, 120 South Main Street in Beaver, to assist displaced residents. Smoke is expected to continue affecting areas northeast of the fire, with unhealthy air quality possible, particularly around Marysvale.