The executive order, signed by Cox, covers Beaver, Piute, and Sevier counties, where extensive burn scars were left behind by the April wildfires and the "dangerous" flooding that followed.
A Season of Fire, Followed by Water
Utah has logged more than 590 wildfires this year that have scorched close to 380,000 acres statewide. The Cottonwood Fire, burning across Beaver and Piute counties, has consumed more than 97,000 acres on its own.Officials said the containment of many of those blazes hasn't ended the danger—the scorched land they left behind has made flash floods and debris flows far more likely when storms hit. Recent monsoon downpours have since flooded parts of southern and central Utah, wrecking homes, roads, irrigation networks, and drinking water systems, isolating some communities and pushing others to evacuate.
Among the damage: State Route 153 in Beaver Canyon has been partially destroyed; water systems serving Beaver City, Marysvale, Junction, and Circleville have been disrupted; and homes and infrastructure in Sevier County, including the town of Koosharem, have been damaged. Since April, 18 Utah counties have declared local emergencies tied to wildfire, flooding, or drought.
"This declaration ensures we can continue providing every available resource to help local communities respond, recover and prepare for the continued flood risks that remain throughout the summer," Cox said in the release.
State Forester Jamie Barnes said burn scars remain hazardous long after fires are extinguished. "Wildfires don't stop impacting communities when the flames are out," Barnes said. "Burn scars can remain highly unstable for years, creating dangerous flooding and debris flows with even relatively small storms.”
Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said the declaration strengthens coordination among responders. "Our emergency managers, first responders and local officials have been working tirelessly to protect lives and restore essential services under extremely challenging conditions," Mason said. "This declaration strengthens our ability to coordinate resources across all levels of government and ensures affected communities receive the support they need as response efforts continue.”
State officials said flood risk will remain elevated for the rest of Utah's monsoon season and urged residents to monitor forecasts, follow evacuation orders, and avoid driving through flooded roads or drainages.