Wildfires Spread Across U.S.

The agency said the firefighters had been part of an interagency response to the Knowles and Gore fires on Saturday. The largest fire in the U.S. is burning through the mountains of Utah, with a helicopter dropping water on the Cottonwood Fire near Beaver, Utah, on Saturday.

Wildfire activity has intensified across the western United States, as consecutive days of hot, dry and windy weather have fueled flames in Utah, Arizona and elsewhere, while new fires have emerged across the region. The largest blaze, the Cottonwood Fire, was burning in rugged terrain in southwest Utah. It expanded Saturday to more than 144 square miles, or 373 square kilometers, after moving through canyons and mountainsides, destroying part of a ski resort and other summer cabins along the way. The cliffs and steep slopes have made the work even harder, said Alyssa Mason, a spokesperson assigned to the fire.

The Wildland Fire Service said the U.S. wildland fire service stands united with the USDA Forest Service in grief and in unwavering support for the loved ones left behind. Their bravery, dedication and sacrifice will never be forgotten, it said. Much of the West is grappling with similar conditions, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The danger is even higher this year because of Utah’s record-low snowpack and its warmest winter on record. From Alaska to Florida, crews worked Saturday to contain dozens of fires, including three dozen classified as large and uncontained.