Danielle Chavira

🚨 BREAKING: I-15 CLOSED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS NEAR BEAVER 🚨 A large mudslide and debris flow has shut down both northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 15 near Beaver after heavy thunderstorms moved across the Cottonwood Fire burn scar Sunday afternoon. This is the same burn scar that has produced multiple dangerous debris flows over the past several days. When intense monsoon rain falls on recently burned terrain, the ground can’t absorb the water. Instead, it rushes downhill, carrying mud, rocks, trees, and other debris with it. The debris flow spilled onto I-15, forcing officials to completely close the freeway while crews work to clear the roadway and assess conditions. Drivers should expect significant delays and use alternate routes until the interstate reopens. ⚠️ This is exactly why flash flood warnings around burn scars are taken so seriously. It doesn’t take much rain to trigger a life-threatening debris flow, and these events can happen with little warning. If you’re traveling through central or southern Utah today, stay alert. More thunderstorms are possible, and additional flash flooding and debris flows could develop near burn scars. I’ll continue to post updates as we get them.

🚨 BREAKING: Three firefighters are dead after battling a wildfire along the Utah-Colorado border. Officials say three wildland firefighters were killed while fighting the rapidly growing #SnyderFire. Two other firefighters were seriously injured and transported to the hospital after being medically evacuated. The firefighters were responding to the Knowles and Gore fires, which have since merged into the larger Snyder Fire. This is a heartbreaking tragedy and a sobering reminder of the dangers firefighters face every day, especially as extreme fire conditions continue across the West. Please keep the families of the fallen firefighters, the injured firefighters, and all crews still battling these fires in your thoughts. 💔🔥

🔥 Finally, some much-needed relief for parts of Utah. After several days of extreme fire weather and explosive wildfire growth, northern and western Utah are getting a little break Sunday. A storm system has brought cooler temperatures, higher humidity, and lighter winds, dramatically lowering the fire danger across much of those areas. ⚠️ But the danger is far from over. Southeastern Utah remains under Critical Fire Weather conditions today. Expect southwest winds of 20-25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph, combined with humidity as low as 5-15%. Those conditions mean any new fire could spread rapidly, especially across the Four Corners region. The good news is a cold front will gradually push south tonight, bringing improved humidity and cooler air to more of the state. 🙏 Today is the first somewhat break we’ve had after days of dangerous fire weather, but with so many large fires already burning across Utah, crews still have a long fight ahead. If you’re spending time outdoors this weekend, please avoid anything that could spark a wildfire. One less ignition gives firefighters a chance to catch up. #utwx #Utah #UtahWildfires #FireWeather