Extreme heat combined with dry, windy conditions resulted in several wildfires across the Western U.S. on Sunday. In Utah, an uncontrolled wildfire forced the evacuation of a small town southwest of Salt Lake City. The Iron Fire in Juab County, detected on Saturday, covered 34 square miles (87 square kilometers). The fire, occurring 70 miles (113 kilometers) from Salt Lake City, led to the evacuation of Eureka’s 1,000 residents and people at a nearby ranch.

Although no homes were reported destroyed, a multiagency group called UTAH Fire Info confirmed that firefighters successfully protected the town with a backburn operation. Utah Division of Forestry Fire and State Lands’ specialist, Kelly Wickens, cautioned that the fire, which was human-caused, continued to grow amid ongoing drought conditions. The matter remains under investigation. Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox visited the area, highlighting the severe fire danger that led to multiple wildfires.

The Iron Fire was one of six occurring in Utah, each at different containment levels. Meanwhile, a wildfire near Sedona, Arizona, burned approximately 300 acres (120 hectares) of difficult terrain near Oak Creek Canyon. As of Sunday afternoon, about 300 firefighters were battling the uncontained blaze, with residents still unable to return home.

This past weekend, much of the Western U.S., spanning from the Rockies to the Pacific coast, experienced temperatures above the average. Even hotter conditions were predicted for early this week. Authorities warned that ongoing hot, dry weather, coupled with low humidity, increased fire risks. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, severe to extreme drought affected much of Utah, Arizona, and Colorado. The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for southwestern Colorado, highlighting gusty winds and low humidity.

Extreme heat caused the deaths of three hikers in the Grand Canyon last week. Temperatures in the Southwest were expected to continue rising, with forecasts suggesting up to 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42.2 C) in Carlsbad, New Mexico. On the other side of the country, the Florida Forest Service reported that fire crews made significant progress in containing brush fires in western Miami-Dade County.