Wildfires blazed through a Utah mountain area known for rare plants, prompting Utah to ban fireworks statewide.
Forecasts call for extreme fire danger in the Four Corners region in the coming days.
Fire crews in several western states faced high winds and drought, slowing containment.
The Western States 100 ultramarathon began in California, marking the start of a grueling race.
In western North Carolina, officials established cooling centers to help residents find relief.
Colorado’s Western Slope bank branches noted longer lines and heightened inquiries after moving customers to FirstBank accounts.
Western Midstream Partners started building a second produced‑water treatment plant in Texas.