firefighters

People in Monticello, Utah, have been tense and preparing to evacuate since shortly after the Babylon Fire started June 26.

The national preparedness level has yet to hit its highest level, but resources are under pressure. Nearly 17,000 people have been assigned to the fires, along with hundreds of engines and air support.

Emily Barker, Nick Hutcherson and Sydney Watson were remembered Sunday as courageous public servants who left a lasting impact through their work. The three were killed outside Grand Junction, Colorado, while battling flames on the Colorado-Utah line.

As the Cottonwood Fire burned across Beaver and Piute counties, residents of Junction and Circleville found themselves preparing for the possibility of evacuation. Their experiences offer a firsthand account of how two small communities responded as the nation's largest wildfire approached.

The U.S. Wildland Fire Service says they were responding to the Knowles and Gore fires on Saturday. Wildfire activity has intensified across the western U.S. due to hot, dry, and windy weather.

The fire destroyed part of the southwest Utah town and took an emotional toll on residents. Still, those who lived through the disaster haven’t given up on the mountain community.

Utah’s record warm, dry winter has created a recipe for bad summer wildfires. But Dammeron Valley residents have prepared for years for a drought-stricken season like this.

A repeal referendum driven by a wave of union signature gathering was set to be on the 2026 ballot, but lawmakers decided to just do away with the law for now.

Farrell Hayes represents something that veteran firefighters say is harder to come by these days: a young person who wants to get involved in firefighting.

From tents in the park to lines at the cafe, residents in Enterprise have felt the impact of welcoming hundreds of firefighters to town. But they say it’s a small price to pay.

With a referendum challenge looking like it will be successful, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson put the law on hold while signatures are being counted.

As of the morning of April 28, the labor groups hit the 8% target in 15 Senate districts, and 146,480 signatures have been verified.