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SALT LAKE CITY — A red flag warning was issued for southwestern Utah by state fire officials, starting Sunday.
The red flag warning means weather conditions have created a dangerous fire hazard for certain areas, making the risk of wildfire very high. Officials say the warning will be active from Sunday until approximately midnight Tuesday.
The National Weather Service forecasts wind gusts up to 35 mph and minimum humidity levels "below 10%" — weather indicators that solidified the hazard.
The affected area spans from southern Utah County to the Nevada and Arizona borders. From the western border, the danger zone spans to approximately the area of Capitol Reef National Park.
"Please use extreme caution with anything that can spark fire," fire officials said, in a post on X. "Be careful with campfires and avoid any activities that create sparks. Follow local fire restrictions."
At the time of the warning, fire crews had been battling a fire, known as the Little Twist fire near Fishlake National Forest, in Beaver County, for over two weeks. The Little Twist fire has burned 2,600 acres along steep, rugged terrain and is located on the border of the area affected by the warning. Officials advised some areas near the fire are closed to assist the 254 firefighters fighting the blaze. In addition, smoke will continue to be visible from the area for several weeks, including from I-15, I-70, U.S. 89 and U.S. 20.
