The Cottonwood Fire, burning near Beaver in southern Utah's Fishlake National Forest, has become the largest active wildfire in the United States, topping 94,000 acres as of Sunday evening, June 28, 2026 — and it remains at 0% containment as crews battle extreme terrain, wind, and critically dry fuel conditions.

Fire Overview

The Cottonwood Fire ignited on June 22, 2026, and has exploded in size through its first week of burning. The fire has burned across canyons, mountainsides, and over ridgelines through parched forest and shrubland in the Fishlake National Forest and adjacent Piute County. As of Sunday, fire officials reported approximately 93,606 to 94,000 acres burned, making it the single largest active wildfire anywhere in the United States.

The fire has been fueled by extreme drought conditions across southern Utah, where precipitation this spring was well below average and fuels are exceptionally dry for late June. Wind gusts in the area have periodically exceeded 40 mph, driving erratic fire behavior and hampering aerial operations.

Suppression Efforts

At least 658 fire personnel have been assigned to the Cottonwood Fire, with estimates suggesting the total across all agencies could reach 1,000 or more. Aircraft including tankers and helicopters have been deployed, but have faced limitations during periods of high winds and smoke. In a weekend update, fire managers reported that some precipitation moved over the fire area, modestly moderating fire behavior — though conditions are expected to return to critical as a renewed weather pattern develops this week.

Why This Matters for the Pacific Northwest

Large fires burning in Utah and the broader Intermountain West directly affect the Pacific Northwest in several ways:

  • Smoke transport: Smoke from the Cottonwood Fire has been carried northward and westward at altitude, contributing to hazy skies and elevated PM2.5 readings across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.
  • Resource competition: When national preparedness is elevated, Pacific Northwest fire agencies compete with Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and others for shared national resources including Type 1 and Type 2 crews, heavy air tankers, and Incident Management Teams.
  • Early season signal: A fire of this magnitude in late June suggests an above-average national fire season ahead. Pacific Northwest fire managers are watching closely as their own region enters peak fire weather season.

National Context

The Cottonwood Fire is part of a broader surge of fire activity across the American West. NIFC data shows 2.9 million acres have burned nationally through late June — significantly above the 10-year average for this point in the year. Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico are all managing multiple large fires simultaneously.

For current information on the Cottonwood Fire, visit InciWeb at inciweb.wildfire.gov or the NIFC national fire news page at nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn.