Dry, windy conditions fuel explosive wildfire growth across western US

Wildfire activity has intensified across the western US due to hot, dry, and windy conditions, with the Cottonwood Fire in Utah growing to over 144 square miles. Governor Spencer Cox declared an emergency as record-low snowpack and historic drought exacerbate the crisis, while hundreds of firefighters battle blazes in challenging terrain. National Interagency Fire Center reports over 3 million acres burned this year, exceeding the 10-year average.