Wildfires ripped a Utah mountain area renowned for rare plants, prompting Utah to prohibit fireworks statewide.
Forecasts call for extreme fire danger in the Four Corners region this weekend.
Fire crews in several western states confronted high winds and drought, hampering containment.
The Western States 100 ultramarathon started in California, signaling the start of a grueling race.
In western North Carolina, officials set up cooling centers to help residents stay cool.
Colorado’s Western Slope bank branches reported extended wait times and additional phone traffic after moving customers to FirstBank accounts.
Western Midstream Partners initiated building a second produced‑water treatment plant in Texas.