Utah wildfire poised to be the most destructive in state history as it surpasses 70,000 acres

The Cottonwood Fire, which started on Monday, remains 0% contained. A wildfire burning in Utah has surpassed 70,000 acres and is poised to become "the most destructive and costly fire" in state history, officials said on Thursday. Fueled by record drought conditions and blustery winds, the Cottonwood Fire grew by more than 10,000 acres since Wednesday and remains 0% contained, officials said. The Beaver County blaze started Monday afternoon, prompting mandatory evacuations of homes and campgrounds, and at one point, completely closed a highway in the mountainous area. "This is likely the most destructive and costly fire in terms of property damage that the state has ever seen," Jamie Barnes, the Utah State Forester and the Director of the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, said at a news conference on Thursday with Gov. On Wednesday, officials said the fire destroyed the popular Eagle Point ski lodge.

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