Gov. Cox declares state of emergency as wildfires continue to burn

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed an executive order Thursday afternoon declaring a state of emergency for at least 30 days as wildfires continue to burn across the state. Cox said the order will uphold all available state resources to protect lives, homes and drinking-water supplies threatened by this year’s fire season — the biggest present concern being the Monroe Fire in central Utah.

Monroe Fire update

On Friday, he planned to travel down to the fire site to be briefed on the deteriorating situation. On Thursday, the fire had taken over 12,000 new acres in just 24 hours. In a week's time, the fire had doubled in size, according to fire officials. Seven cabins and homes had already been destroyed by Friday, and more possible evacuations loomed in the area as the flames — as high as 300 feet tall — raged on.Containment had also dropped from 16% to just 7%, closing state Route 24 in Sevier County again and forcing a number of residents to evacuate. Around 1:30 p.m. on Friday, the evacuation order for Monroe Canyon was lifted and SR 24 reopened. Meanwhile, 1,200 firefighter personnel had been working on containing the fire. “Heroic efforts are underway as firefighters and emergency personnel work around the clock to save homes and neighborhoods,” Cox said. “We are mobilizing every tool at our disposal to support them and keep Utahns safe.”

National Guard involvement

Cox said the order activated a statewide plan that could involve the Utah National Guard if needed. National Guard public affairs Officer Chris Kroeber said the guard's support would likely come first in the form of helicopters. "Primarily that response lately has looked like helicopter support," he said. "We can drop water on a fire from the air, and so our pilots train for that mission regularly." Krober said in addition, the guard can also help with transportation, and provide staging areas for firefighting efforts. He said although the guard has not been called out to help, guard members are always training and ready. "We're Utahns. We're here, and it affects us just as much as it affects everybody," he said. "So we're very eager and willing and trained to support in, you know, really a lot of different types of capacities based on the needs of the state."

'Fire sense' saves lives

So far, Utah has experienced a total of 693 fires in 2025, burning nearly 114,000 acres. This is followed by 22 Red Flag Warning days, marked by high winds and low humidity throughout the state. On Thursday, the governor stressed the fact that 72% those fires had been human caused, reminding the public that "'fire sense' saves lives and property by reducing sparks from everyday activities." "Wildfire season remains in full force, and conditions are extreme," Cox's office said Thursday. " Public safety and firefighter safety remain the top priority as Utah confronts the compounding threats of burn scars, debris flows, and post-fire flooding that linger long after the flames are out."

This article was updated with more information after initial publication.

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