Utah Governor Spencer Cox has initiated a state of emergency as wildfires ravage thousands of acres, setting the stage for the state’s most intense fire season in recent years.
So far in 2025, Utah has recorded 693 wildfires, burning over 114,000 acres and devastating communities statewide, according to officials.
The top four active fires alone have burned through over 100,000 acres, with suppression expenses exceeding $103 million among local, state, and federal bodies.
Cox, who has been in office since 2021, enacted Executive Order 2025-08 on Thursday, making the emergency declaration effective immediately for 30 days.
This order deploys all state resources to safeguard lives, properties, livestock, and water sources. It also sets Utah’s emergency operations plan into motion and permits the deployment of the Utah National Guard if necessary.
“Heroic efforts are underway as firefighters and emergency personnel work tirelessly to protect homes and communities,” Cox stated. “We are utilizing every tool available to assist them and ensure the safety of Utah residents.”
The largest fire, the Monroe Canyon Fire in Sevier County, has consumed over 37,000 acres and is just 11 percent contained, as reported by the Utah Department of Natural Resources.
As wildfires tear through thousands of acres across Utah, marking the state’s most severe fire season in years, Governor Spencer Cox has declared a state of emergency. Pictured: Firefighters work to subdue the Monroe Canyon Fire near Monroe, Utah on July 24
Utah Governor Spencer Cox (pictured) has declared a state of emergency on Thursday, mobilizing all available state resources to protect lives, homes, livestock, and drinking-water supplies
The Monroe Canyon Fire has destroyed at least seven homes, as well as 12 power poles, causing widespread power outages across the state’s south-central region.
Cox is scheduled to travel to Richfield on Friday for a briefing on the fire and to meet with local officials and emergency responders.
Continued critical fire conditions, including high temperatures, low humidity and gusty winds have complicated statewide firefighting operations, according to the governor’s statement.
The Beehive State has experienced 22 Red Flag Warning days this year – conditions marked by high winds, dry fuels, and low moisture levels. The extreme conditions follow record-low snowpack and precipitation, which extended an already dry period across the state.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, more than 60 percent of the state is currently in severe or extreme drought, with the remainder in moderate drought.
This year marks Utah’s busiest wildfire season since 2020.
Fires like the Forsyth Fire in Washington County and the Deer Creek Fire in San Juan County have already destroyed dozens of structures.
The declaration also activates Utah ‘s emergency operations plan and authorizes the deployment of the Utah National Guard if needed. Pictured: Monroe Canyon Fire blazes near Monroe, Utah on July 16
The governor stressed that public and firefighter safety remains the top priority as the state faces longer-term risks from burn scars, debris flows, and post-fire flooding that can persist long after flames are extinguished. Pictured: Firefighters fill self-supporting tanks while working to subdue the Monroe Canyon Fire near Monroe, Utah on July 25
The emergency order will remain in effect for 30 days unless extended by the Utah Legislature
In his statement, Cox also emphasized the human role in the wildfire crisis. His office reports that approximately 72 percent of Utah’s wildfires in 2025 have been human-caused.
‘Fire sense saves lives and property by reducing sparks from everyday activities and helping firefighters focus on blazes ignited by lightning,’ Cox reminded the public.
However, the governor stressed that public and firefighter safety remains the top priority – especially as the state faces longer-term risks from burn scars, debris flows, and post-fire flooding.
Cox’s emergency order will remain in effect for 30 days unless extended by the Utah Legislature.
In addition to the blazes in Utah, over 90,000 acres are on fire in Arizona as part of the ongoing Dragon Bravo Fire. The Arizona Emergency Information Network reported only 4 percent containment as of Thursday evening.
Now, wildfire smoke from Utah, as well as Arizona, has spread to Denver and much of Colorado, severely impacting air quality.
The smoke is noticeable as hazy skies and reduced visibility, particularly affecting the Front Range area, including Denver, Aurora, and Boulder, according to CBS News Colorado.
