DOE declares power emergency as record heat hits the East; Utah's Cottonwood Fire nears 93,000 acres; Kentucky recovers from deadly flooding

Fires Grow Overnight at Preparedness Level 4; PJM Grid Emergency as Demand May Break the All Time Record; Tropical Storm 09W Threatens the Marianas at Possible Category 4 Strength

Today’s brief covers overnight growth on Utah’s Cottonwood and Babylon fires and Colorado’s Aspen Acres Fire as the nation holds at Preparedness Level 4 with 51 uncontained large fires, federal grid emergency orders for PJM as demand today could break the all time record during widespread extreme heat, a CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities addition for Microsoft SharePoint with a July 4 remediation deadline, Guam’s advisory on Tropical Storm 09W and a possible category 4 passage through the Marianas early next week, plus state updates from Arizona, California, Missouri, New Mexico, Washington, and more. EM Morning Brief is your concise daily update on national and state-by-state emergency management news. Produced by Sitch Radio, an EOC Voices podcast. KEY TAKEAWAYS • Wildfire activity: The nation holds at Preparedness Level 4 with 51 uncontained large fires. Utah’s Cottonwood Fire leads at 93,918 acres and 5 percent containment, the Babylon Fire jumps to 70,735 acres at 0 percent, and Colorado’s Aspen Acres Fire grows to 47,953 acres with evacuations in Rye, Beulah, and Wetmore and more than 150 structures reported destroyed. • Grid emergency: DOE Section 202(c) orders for PJM run through 11:59 PM Eastern July 3, and peak demand today could break the 2006 all time record. Maryland, Virginia, DC, and Delaware sit in the highest stress zone; watch for conservation appeals. • Extreme heat: Warning level heat covers a large portion of the country from the Plains to New England through the July 4 holiday, with cooling center activations in Chicago, Detroit, Boston, New York City, Indianapolis, and beyond. • Marianas typhoon threat: Tropical Storm 09W is forecast to intensify rapidly and could pass through Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands late Sunday into Monday at possible category 4 strength. Preparedness messaging is active now. • Cyber: CISA adds SharePoint flaw CVE-2026-45659 to the KEV catalog with a July 4 remediation deadline, and the SimpleHelp KEV remediation deadline falls today. • Severe weather: SPC places the northern Plains into the Upper Midwest under an Enhanced Risk today with very large hail and gusts above 75 mph possible; overnight storm damage reports are still developing in Minnesota and Iowa. • Water systems: LADWP issues a boil water notice for part of Koreatown after E. coli detections, while St. Louis lifts its precautionary boil water advisory. SPONSORS The NIMS Store - https://thenimsstore.com/ [https://thenimsstore.com/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] Descript, Edit video by editing text - https://link.bcolburn.com/DB-Descript [https://link.bcolburn.com/DB-Descript] ESET, Cyber Security Progress. Protected. - https://refer.eset.com/hip7r [https://refer.eset.com/hip7r] SOURCES NIFC AND INCIWEB • NIFC National Fire News: PL4, 51 uncontained large fires, Cottonwood Fire [https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • NIFC Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory: Colorado and southern Wyoming, July 1 [https://www.nifc.gov/sites/default/files/NICC/2-Predictive%20Services/Fuels-Fire%20Danger/Fuels-Fire-Behavior-Advisory_CO-S-WY_20260701.pdf?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • InciWeb incident list: overnight acreage updates [https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/accessible-view?utm_source=em-morning-brief] FEMA • OpenFEMA disaster declarations: FM-5643-CO, Gold Mountain Fire FMAG [https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries?utm_source=em-morning-brief] CISA • Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog: CVE-2026-45659 SharePoint, CVE-2026-48558 SimpleHelp [https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?utm_source=em-morning-brief] DHS • National Terrorism Advisory System: no current advisories [https://www.dhs.gov/ntas?utm_source=em-morning-brief] NOAA AND NWS • SPC Day 1 Convective Outlook: Enhanced Risk northern Plains into Upper Midwest [https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1otlk.html?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • NHC Atlantic tropical outlook: no development expected [https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo.php?basin=atlc&utm_source=em-morning-brief] • NHC East Pacific outlook: Tropical Storm Douglas weakening [https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo.php?basin=epac&utm_source=em-morning-brief] • Weather.com: heat wave stretches into the July 4 week [https://weather.com/2026/07/01/forecast/national/heat-wave-fourth-of-july-week-midwest-south-east?utm_source=em-morning-brief] GRID AND POWER • DOE: emergency orders secure Mid-Atlantic grid ahead of hot weather [https://www.energy.gov/articles/energy-secretary-secures-mid-atlantic-grid-ahead-period-hot-weather?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • The Hill: heat dome strains the power grid [https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5950278-heatdome-energy-power-grid/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • Electric Choice: PJM demand forecast and record figures [https://www.electricchoice.com/blog/pjm-emergency-order-heat-wave-2026/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] USGS • M 3.8 earthquake near Oak Harbor, Washington, event page [https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/uw714040221?utm_source=em-morning-brief] ALABAMA • WAAY: heat advisories continue through Thursday [https://www.waaytv.com/news/heat-advisories-continue-through-thursday/article_b12c5988-0020-4d67-9dd2-acdc58aaaf22.html?utm_source=em-morning-brief] ALASKA • Alaska Wildland Fire Information: Martha Fire stopped at 5 acres near Soldotna [https://akfireinfo.com/2026/07/01/martha-fire-near-soldotna-active-near-homes/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • Alaska Wildland Fire Information: final Starry Fire update, evacuations lifted [https://akfireinfo.com/2026/07/01/final-update-for-starry-fire-234/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] ARIZONA • Arizona Emergency Information Network: Pocket Fire containment reaches 20 percent [https://ein.az.gov/containment-reaches-20-pocket-fire?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • InciWeb: Pocket Fire [https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/azcof-pocket-fire?utm_source=em-morning-brief] ARKANSAS • Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: heat advisory and storm threat [https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2026/jul/01/severe-storms-possible-wednesday-in-southeast/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] CALIFORNIA • LADWP: boil water notice for small area of Koreatown [https://ladwpnews.com/ladwp-issues-boil-water-notice-for-small-area-of-koreatown/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] COLORADO • InciWeb: Aspen Acres Fire [https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/copsf-aspen-acres-fire?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • Colorado Sun: Wednesday Colorado fires update [https://coloradosun.com/2026/07/01/wednesday-update-colorado-fires/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • InciWeb: Gold Mountain Fire [https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cogmf-gold-mountain-fire?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • InciWeb: Snyder Fire [https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/utcyd-snyder-fire?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • InciWeb: Ferris Fire [https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cosjf-ferris-fire?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • CPR: communities cancel July 4 fireworks [https://www.cpr.org/2026/07/01/fireworks-july-4-canceled-wildfires/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] CONNECTICUT • Governor Lamont: Extreme Hot Weather Protocol activated through Sunday [https://portal.ct.gov/governor/news/press-releases/2026/06-2026/governor-lamont-activates-extreme-hot-weather-protocol-from-tuesday-through-sunday?utm_source=em-morning-brief] DELAWARE • Delaware.gov: NWS issues Extreme Heat Warning for all of Delaware [https://news.delaware.gov/2026/07/01/the-nws-issues-extreme-heat-warning-advisory-for-all-of-delaware/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] FLORIDA • Florida Forest Service: current wildfire information [https://www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Wildland-Fire/Current-Wildfire-Information?utm_source=em-morning-brief] GEORGIA • Cobb County Courier: heat advisory with heat index near 107 [https://cobbcountycourier.com/2026/07/another-georgia-heat-advisory-issued-for-wednesday-july-1-as-heat-index-nears-107-degrees/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • CBS Atlanta: severe thunderstorm warnings in north Georgia [https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/live-updates/severe-thunderstorm-warnings-north-georgia-metro-atlanta-july-1-2026/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] ILLINOIS • CBS Chicago: Extreme Heat Warning and city cooling areas [https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/extreme-heat-warning-cook-county-heat-advisory-chicago-weather/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • Cook County: 24 hour cooling centers [https://www.cookcountyil.gov/service/cooling-centers?utm_source=em-morning-brief] INDIANA • WBIW: Extreme Heat Warning upgraded for central Indiana [https://www.wbiw.com/2026/07/01/dangerous-surge-extreme-heat-warning-upgraded-for-central-indiana-as-heat-index-threatens-107-degrees/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • WTHR: Indianapolis cooling sites and Indiana 211 locations [https://www.wthr.com/article/weather/weather-impact/city-of-indianapolis-public-cooling-centers-open-heat-wave-central-indiana-weather-impact/531-d601007e-ce20-4fa8-ac4d-db3aa5f15ee3?utm_source=em-morning-brief] IOWA • KEYC: strong to severe storms and flash flooding overnight [https://www.keyc.com/2026/07/01/strong-severe-storms-flash-flooding-possible-this-evening-tonight/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] KANSAS • NWS Wichita: Extreme Heat Warning and Heat Advisory [https://www.weather.gov/ict?utm_source=em-morning-brief] KENTUCKY • WHAS11: Louisville heat advisory [https://www.whas11.com/article/weather/weather-impact/heat-index-louisville-advisory-weather-whas11-forecast-kentucky/417-93283fbe-f812-45e1-a8a8-93e15398be55?utm_source=em-morning-brief] MAINE • Bangor Daily News: extreme heat warning and watch for Maine [https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/07/01/hancock/hancock-environment/maine-mdi-acadia-extreme-heat-watch/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • Maine Public: cooling centers open ahead of dangerous heat [https://www.mainepublic.org/health/2026-06-30/portland-and-other-maine-communities-open-cooling-centers-ahead-of-dangerous-heat-wave?utm_source=em-morning-brief] MARYLAND • The Daily Record: US declares grid emergency for power serving Maryland [https://thedailyrecord.com/2026/07/01/us-declares-emergency-for-power-grid-serving-md-as-heatwave-looms/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] MASSACHUSETTS • City of Boston: Excessive Heat Warning July 1 through July 3 [https://www.boston.gov/news/city-boston-issues-excessive-heat-warning-wednesday-july-1-through-friday-july-3?utm_source=em-morning-brief] MICHIGAN • CBS Detroit: heat wave over southeast Michigan [https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/heat-wave-building-over-southeast-michigan-heres-what-you-need-to-know-for-wednesday/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • Detroit News: Detroit cooling hours extended, Warren outage [https://www.detroitnews.com/story/weather/2026/07/01/heat-wave-metro-detroit-temperatures/90764669007/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] MINNESOTA • KEYC: severe storms and tornado potential across southern Minnesota [https://www.keyc.com/2026/07/01/strong-severe-storms-flash-flooding-possible-this-evening-tonight/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • NWS Twin Cities: storm reports [https://www.weather.gov/mpx/stormreports?utm_source=em-morning-brief] MISSOURI • City of St. Louis: boil water advisory lifted [https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/public-utilities/water/news/boil-water-north-south-2026.cfm?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • ABC17: Extreme Heat Warning until July 3 from NWS St. Louis [https://abc17news.com/alerts/2026/07/01/extreme-heat-warning-issued-july-1-at-141pm-cdt-until-july-3-at-1000pm-cdt-by-nws-st-louis-mo/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] NEW JERSEY • NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly: current hazards briefing [https://www.weather.gov/media/phi/current_briefing.pdf?utm_source=em-morning-brief] NEW MEXICO • Los Alamos Reporter: McCauley Springs Fire update, July 1 [https://losalamosreporter.com/2026/07/01/sfnf-mccauley-springs-fire-update-for-wednesday-july-1-2026/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] NEW YORK • NYC Mayor’s Office: emergency heat measures expanded [https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/07/mayor-mamdani-expands-emergency-heat-measures-to-protect-new-yor?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • WRVO: Extreme Heat Warning for much of New York [https://www.wrvo.org/2026-07-01/risk-of-heat-related-illness-rises-as-extreme-heat-warning-issued-for-much-of-ny?utm_source=em-morning-brief] OREGON • Central Oregon Fire Info: July 4 caution and fireworks ban on federal lands [https://centraloregonfire.org/2026/07/01/media-release/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] UTAH • InciWeb: Cottonwood Fire [https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/utfif-cottonwood-fire?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • InciWeb: Babylon Fire [https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/utmlf-babylon-fire?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • NPS Canyonlands: Needles District closure [https://www.nps.gov/cany/learn/news/news06282026.htm?utm_source=em-morning-brief] WASHINGTON • Washington State Patrol: state fire mobilization authorized for the Lambdin Fire [https://wsp.wa.gov/state-fire-mobilization-authorized-for-the-lambdin-fire?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • Walla Walla Union-Bulletin: Lambdin Fire grows to 12,776 acres, 25 percent contained [https://www.union-bulletin.com/news/local/update-lambdin-fire-grows-to-12-776-acres-with-25-containment/article_7f503a79-670b-445e-8d35-a7217cc534d6.html?utm_source=em-morning-brief] GUAM AND NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS • Guam Homeland Security: Tropical Storm 09W public advisory, July 2 [https://ghs.guam.gov/ghsocd-public-advisory-tropical-storm-09w-july-2-2026?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • CNMI Governor’s Office: Super Typhoon Sinlaku recovery update [https://governor.cnmi.gov/sinlaku-recovery-update/?utm_source=em-morning-brief]

DOE declares power emergency as record heat hits the East; Utah's Cottonwood Fire nears 93,000 acres; Kentucky recovers from deadly flooding

A record-challenging heat wave drives a federal power emergency for the PJM grid across 13 states, while wildfires push the national preparedness level to 4 with large, fast-moving fires forcing evacuations in Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, and Alaska. Kentucky continues recovery after deadly flash flooding, and precautionary boil-water advisories affect communities in Missouri and South Carolina. EM Morning Brief is your concise daily update on national and state-by-state emergency management news. Produced by Sitch Radio, an EOC Voices podcast. KEY TAKEAWAYS • Power grid: DOE emergency order lets PJM plants run at maximum output as record heat threatens the grid’s all-time summer peak on July 2; conserve energy and use cooling centers. • Wildfires: National preparedness level 4 with 54 uncontained large fires; Utah’s Cottonwood Fire (about 92,820 acres, 4 percent contained) may be the state’s most destructive on record. • Colorado: Aspen Acres Fire near 28,300 acres with about 155 structures lost; Rye, Beulah, and San Isabel evacuated under a state disaster declaration. • Kentucky flooding: Four dead and at least 63 water rescues; statewide emergency and 26 local declarations remain as extreme heat complicates recovery. • Lifelines: Precautionary boil-water advisories in St. Louis, Missouri and West Columbia, South Carolina; heat-driven outages in the Detroit area. • Volcano: Kilauea is not erupting at ADVISORY level; USGS forecasts the next fountaining episode between July 6 and 10. SPONSORS The NIMS Store - https://thenimsstore.com/ [https://thenimsstore.com/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] Descript, Edit video by editing text - https://link.bcolburn.com/DB-Descript [https://link.bcolburn.com/DB-Descript] SOURCES HEAT AND POWER GRID • U.S. heatwave to test power grid (Al Jazeera): DOE PJM emergency order and record demand [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/30/us-heatwave-to-test-power-grid-amid-soaring-ai-driven-energy-demand?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • Emergency ordered for largest U.S. power grid (Bloomberg): PJM power emergency [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-06-30/emergency-ordered-for-largest-us-power-grid-as-record-heat-nears?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • NOAA WPC Hazards: excessive heat and rainfall outlook [https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/threats/threats.php?utm_source=em-morning-brief] WILDFIRES (NIFC AND INCIWEB) • NIFC Incident Management Situation Report (IMSR) [https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/incident-information/imsr?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • NIFC daily situation report (PDF) [https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdf?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • NIFC Fire Information: national preparedness level and fire totals [https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information?utm_source=em-morning-brief] VOLCANO (USGS) • USGS Kilauea volcano updates [https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/volcano-updates?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • USGS HVO volcano notice (June 30, 2026) [https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-06-30T17:36:14+00:00?utm_source=em-morning-brief] TROPICS (NHC) • National Hurricane Center Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook [https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo.php?utm_source=em-morning-brief] ALASKA • NIFC IMSR: Starry Fire near Anderson [https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdf?utm_source=em-morning-brief] ARIZONA • Arizona Emergency Information Network: emergency bulletins [https://ein.az.gov/emergency-bulletins-0?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • NIFC IMSR: Pocket, Steamboat, and Sycamore fires [https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdf?utm_source=em-morning-brief] COLORADO • KKTV: Aspen Acres Fire tops 28,000 acres, structures lost [https://www.kktv.com/2026/06/30/wildfire-drives-evacuations-southern-colorado-burns-over-28000-acres/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • Colorado Public Radio: Beulah evacuations, Aspen Acres Fire [https://www.cpr.org/2026/06/29/beulah-evacuate-aspen-acres-11-fire-two-fires-burn-in-southern-colorado/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] HAWAII • USGS HVO: Kilauea status and next fountaining forecast [https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/volcano-updates?utm_source=em-morning-brief] KENTUCKY • ABC News: 4 dead in Kentucky flooding, statewide emergency [https://abcnews.com/US/4-dead-kentucky-flooding-state-emergency-declared-governor/story?id=134281318&utm_source=em-morning-brief] • LEX18: Beshear statewide state of emergency and local declarations [https://www.lex18.com/news/covering-kentucky/gov-andy-beshear-issues-state-of-emergency-for-kentucky-due-to-widespread-flooding?utm_source=em-morning-brief] MICHIGAN • ClickOnDetroit: extreme heat strains DTE grid, outages in Detroit area [https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2026/06/30/detroit-power-outage-extreme-heat-pushes-dte-grid-to-the-limit-leaving-hundreds-without-power/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] MISSOURI • City of St. Louis: precautionary boil-water advisory (June 30, 2026) [https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/public-utilities/water/news/boil-water-north-south-2026.cfm?utm_source=em-morning-brief] NEVADA • NIFC IMSR: Grapevine Fire, Lincoln County [https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdf?utm_source=em-morning-brief] NEW MEXICO • NIFC IMSR: Canyon Venado Fire near Clines Corners [https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdf?utm_source=em-morning-brief] NEW YORK • Gothamist: NYC heat wave and cooling measures [https://gothamist.com/news/it-could-hit-105-degrees-in-nycs-heat-wave-this-week-heres-what-the-city-is-doing?utm_source=em-morning-brief] NORTH CAROLINA AND TENNESSEE • ABC News: flooding deaths and impacts across Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina [https://abcnews.com/US/4-dead-kentucky-flooding-state-emergency-declared-governor/story?id=134281318&utm_source=em-morning-brief] OREGON • PBS NewsHour: heat, wind, and drought spark western wildfires [https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/heat-wind-and-drought-conditions-spark-wildfires-in-the-u-s-west?utm_source=em-morning-brief] SOUTH CAROLINA • City of West Columbia: boil-water advisory (June 30, 2026) [https://westcolumbiasc.gov/boil-water-advisory-6-30-2026-issued/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] UTAH • ABC4: Cottonwood Fire, Beaver County evacuations and containment [https://www.abc4.com/utah-weather/wildfire/cottonwood-fire-beaver-utah/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • KSL: estimated 150 structures destroyed by Cottonwood Fire [https://www.ksl.com/article/51579076/estimated-150-buildings-destroyed-in-southern-utah-wildfire-fire-managers-say?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • Fox 13: Rocky Mountain Power de-energizes lines, prolonged outage warning [https://www.fox13now.com/news/utah-wildfires/evacuations-ordered-in-beaver-county-due-to-new-cottonwood-fire?utm_source=em-morning-brief] WASHINGTON • NIFC IMSR: Lyle Hill Fire near The Dalles [https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdf?utm_source=em-morning-brief]

NIFC raises national wildfire status to PL 4 after three firefighters die in Colorado-Utah burnover; dangerous heat wave builds across central and eastern U.S.

Today’s brief leads with wildfire: NIFC raises the national preparedness level to PL 4 as 52 large fires burn across nine states, and the fire community mourns three federal firefighters killed in a burnover on the Knowles Fire along the Colorado-Utah border. A long-duration, dangerous heat wave is building across the central and eastern United States ahead of the July 4 weekend, with Connecticut and New York activating heat operations. We also cover the Pocket Fire’s rapid growth and evacuation readiness near Sedona, an eastern Pacific system the National Hurricane Center is watching for development, and a magnitude 5.5 earthquake offshore of Oregon. EM Morning Brief is your concise daily update on national and state-by-state emergency management news. Produced by Sitch Radio, an EOC Voices podcast. KEY TAKEAWAYS • National wildfire status: NIFC is at Preparedness Level 4 with 52 large fires across nine states (about 465,189 acres) and extremely critical fire weather in the Four Corners region. • Firefighter fatalities: Three federal wildland firefighters died and two were injured in a June 27 burnover on the Knowles Fire at the Colorado-Utah border; the merged Snyder Fire remains a priority incident with evacuation warnings in Mesa County, Colorado. • Extreme heat: A dangerous heat wave is expanding across the central and eastern U.S., peaking around July 3 and 4; Connecticut activated its Extreme Hot Weather Protocol and New York issued heat and air-quality guidance. • Arizona — Pocket Fire: Rapid growth north of Sedona has pushed Kachina Village, Forest Highlands, and Oak Creek Canyon into SET evacuation status with road closures and smoke impacts in Flagstaff. • Tropics and seismic: The National Hurricane Center gives an eastern Pacific wave a medium chance of becoming a tropical depression by midweek; a magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck offshore Oregon with a USGS green alert and no expected damage. SPONSORS The NIMS Store - https://thenimsstore.com/ [https://thenimsstore.com/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] SOURCES WILDFIRE (NATIONAL) • NIFC National Fire News — PL 4 declaration, large-fire totals, fire weather [https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • NIFC Incident Management Situation Report (IMSR) [https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/sitreprt.pdf?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • DOI — Burnover incident on western Colorado wildfire results in firefighter fatalities [https://www.doi.gov/wildlandfireservice/burnover-incident-western-colorado-wildfire-results-federal-wildland?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • DOI — Identities released of three firefighters who died responding to the Knowles Fire [https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/identities-released-three-firefighters-who-died-responding-knowles-fire-colorado?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • NPR — 3 firefighters killed on Colorado-Utah border as wildfires intensify [https://www.npr.org/2026/06/28/g-s1-130737/wildfires-utah-colorado-firefighter-deaths-snyder?utm_source=em-morning-brief] EXTREME HEAT • NWS — Extreme heat forecasts and safety [https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • Governor of Connecticut — Extreme Hot Weather Protocol activation [https://portal.ct.gov/governor/news/press-releases/2026/06-2026/governor-lamont-activates-extreme-hot-weather-protocol-from-tuesday-through-sunday?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • Governor of New York — Hochul urges New Yorkers to prepare for extreme heat [https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-urges-new-yorkers-prepare-multiple-days-extreme-heat-2?utm_source=em-morning-brief] TROPICAL AND SEISMIC • National Hurricane Center — Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook [https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo.php?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • USGS — Significant earthquakes, 2026 [https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/browse/significant.php?utm_source=em-morning-brief] ARIZONA • InciWeb — Pocket Fire, Coconino National Forest [https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/azcof-pocket-fire?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • Arizona Emergency Information Network — Red flag conditions impact the Pocket Fire area [https://ein.az.gov/red-flag-conditions-impact-pocket-fire-area-throughout-weekend?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • AZFamily — Residents pack belongings as Pocket Fire doubles in size [https://www.azfamily.com/2026/06/29/residents-pack-belongings-pocket-fire-northern-arizona-doubles-size/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] COLORADO • CBS News — 3 firefighters killed, 2 injured fighting wildfires near Colorado-Utah border [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/knowles-and-gore-fires-firefighters-killed-utah-colorado/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] OREGON • USGS — Latest earthquakes map [https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/?utm_source=em-morning-brief]

Cottonwood Fire becomes nation's largest at 92,000 acres as Utah holds emergency; dangerous heat builds across central and eastern U.S.

Today’s brief leads with the Western wildfire crisis, where the National Interagency Fire Center holds the nation at Preparedness Level 3 amid roughly 45 uncontained large fires and extremely critical fire weather across the southern Intermountain West. Utah carries the heaviest load, with the Cottonwood Fire now the nation’s largest active wildfire near 92,000 acres, the Iron and Cherry fires driving evacuations, and a statewide emergency and fireworks restrictions in effect. We also track a prolonged, dangerous heat episode building across the central and eastern United States ahead of the July Fourth holiday, severe storm and flash flood risks in the Plains and Mid-Atlantic, tropical monitoring in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific, and state-level items including a Virginia boil water notice. EM Morning Brief is your concise daily update on national and state-by-state emergency management news. Produced by Sitch Radio, an EOC Voices podcast. KEY TAKEAWAYS • National wildfire posture: NIFC holds the country at Preparedness Level 3 with roughly 45 uncontained large fires; extremely critical fire weather grips northern Arizona, eastern Utah, western Colorado, and far northwestern New Mexico. • Utah leads the crisis: The Cottonwood Fire is the nation’s largest active wildfire near 92,000 acres at zero containment; the Iron Fire is about 40,800 acres and 38 percent contained; the Cherry Fire has grown past 30,000 acres and is forcing mandatory evacuations for Mammoth, Silver City, Eureka, and Tintic Junction. A statewide emergency and fireworks restrictions remain in effect through July 5. • Active evacuations elsewhere: Arizona’s Pocket Fire keeps Oak Creek Canyon under orders north of Sedona; California crews responded to a Butte County grass fire near Paradise, with Big Bear public safety power shutoffs in place. • Dangerous heat building: Tens of millions are under heat alerts; extreme heat warnings and advisories span the Upper Midwest (Minnesota), the Mid-South (Tennessee), and the Northeast (New York), with heat index values up to 105 to 110 degrees later this week. • Lifelines and water: A boil water notice is in effect for parts of Alleghany County, Virginia after a main break; Rocky Mountain Power issued public safety power shutoff watches and warnings for parts of central, southern, and eastern Utah. • Watch items: Slight risks for severe thunderstorms in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest and for excessive rainfall in the Mid-Atlantic and Tennessee Valley; the National Hurricane Center monitors low to medium development chances in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific, with no coastal warnings in effect. SPONSORS The NIMS Store - https://thenimsstore.com/ [https://thenimsstore.com/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] SOURCES NIFC AND NATIONAL FIRE ACTIVITY • NIFC Incident Management Situation Report: national preparedness level, fire counts, and incident details [https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdf?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • NIFC National Fire News: current national wildfire overview [https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn?utm_source=em-morning-brief] HEAT • NWS Weather Prediction Center HeatRisk: national heat hazard outlook [https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/heatrisk/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • NBC News: dangerous heat wave ahead of July Fourth, with historic highs possible [https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/heat/heat-wave-ahead-of-july-fourth-rcna352127?utm_source=em-morning-brief] SEVERE WEATHER AND TROPICAL • NWS Storm Prediction Center Day 2 Convective Outlook: severe thunderstorm risk areas [https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day2otlk.html?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • NHC Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook: Atlantic and Eastern Pacific development chances [https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo.php?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • NHC Atlantic Tropical Weather Discussion: current basin discussion [https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIATWDAT.shtml?utm_source=em-morning-brief] UTAH • CBS News and AP: Utah declares emergency, limits fireworks as crews battle the largest U.S. wildfire [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/utah-cottonwood-wildfire-emergency-fireworks/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • ABC4: Cottonwood Fire update and acreage [https://www.abc4.com/utah-weather/wildfire/cottonwood-fire-utah-update/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • KUTV: Iron Fire growth and containment [https://kutv.com/news/wildfire/iron-fire-expands-over-37000-acres-firefighters-reach-17-containment?utm_source=em-morning-brief] ARIZONA • NIFC Incident Management Situation Report: Pocket and Sycamore fire details [https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdf?utm_source=em-morning-brief] CALIFORNIA • CBS News Los Angeles: Big Bear public safety power shutoffs amid wildfire risk [https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/big-bear-public-power-safety-shutoffs-wildfire-risk-bear-valley-electric-socal-edison/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] • CBS News Sacramento: Butte County grass fire prompts evacuation activity near Paradise [https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/butte-county-pentz-fire-evacuations-cal-fire/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] COLORADO • CBS News Colorado: Dry Creek Fire reaches 90 percent containment south of Rifle [https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/colorado-90-containment-dry-creek-fire-rifle/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] FLORIDA, IDAHO, NORTH CAROLINA, WASHINGTON, WYOMING, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, ALASKA • NIFC Incident Management Situation Report: state-by-state large incident details [https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdf?utm_source=em-morning-brief] MINNESOTA • FOX 9 Minneapolis: extreme heat warning issued for June 29, 2026 [https://www.fox9.com/weather/minnesota-weather-extreme-heat-warning-for-june-29-2026?utm_source=em-morning-brief] NEW YORK • NBC News: heat wave ahead of July Fourth, Northeast heat watch detail [https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/heat/heat-wave-ahead-of-july-fourth-rcna352127?utm_source=em-morning-brief] TENNESSEE • NewsChannel 5 Nashville: dangerous heat moving into the Mid-South [https://www.newschannel5.com/weather/june-28-2026-dangerous-heat-moving-into-the-mid-south?utm_source=em-morning-brief] VIRGINIA • WDBJ7: new boil water notice issued for Alleghany County neighborhoods [https://www.wdbj7.com/2026/06/28/new-boil-water-notice-issued-some-covington-neighborhoods/?utm_source=em-morning-brief]

Utah's Cottonwood Fire tops 71,000 acres at zero containment; Extremely Critical fire weather hits Utah, Arizona, and Nevada; CISA adds two actively exploited vulnerabilities

Today’s brief leads with escalating Western wildfire activity: Utah’s Cottonwood Fire is the nation’s largest at roughly 71,000 acres with zero containment and active evacuations, the Iron Fire keeps Eureka under a Level 3 order, and the Storm Prediction Center posts an Extremely Critical fire weather outlook for parts of Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. We also cover flash flooding and flood watches from Kansas into Missouri and Oklahoma, building dangerous heat across the southern and central U.S., CISA’s addition of two actively exploited vulnerabilities to its catalog, and an FDA Class I recall of Medline surgical kits. EM Morning Brief is your concise daily update on national and state-by-state emergency management news. Produced by Sitch Radio, an EOC Voices podcast. KEY TAKEAWAYS • Western wildfire surge: NIFC holds the nation at Preparedness Level 3 with 37 large uncontained fires; Utah’s Cottonwood Fire (about 71,000 acres, 0 percent contained) leads the country with extreme behavior and active evacuations. • Extremely Critical fire weather: SPC flags parts of central and southwestern Utah, northwest Arizona, and extreme southeastern Nevada for today, with 25 to 35 mph winds and 5 to 15 percent humidity. • Utah evacuations: Level 3 “Go” orders remain for several Beaver-area communities (Cottonwood Fire) and for the Town of Eureka (Iron Fire, about 40,445 acres, 26 percent contained). • Central U.S. flooding: Flood warnings and watches span Kansas, Missouri, and northeastern Oklahoma, with road closures in western Kansas and a flash flood threat into southwestern Missouri. • Building heat: Dangerous heat expands across the southern and central U.S. this weekend and pushes east next week, with widespread 90s. • CISA KEV additions: Two actively exploited vulnerabilities added June 25, CVE-2026-12569 (PTC Windchill/FlexPLM) and CVE-2026-20230 (Cisco Unified CM SSRF); federal agencies must remediate. • FDA Class I recall: Medline recalls more than 6,500 cardiovascular procedure kits and more than 500 general surgery trays over anesthetic quality issues, the FDA’s most serious recall category. SPONSORS The NIMS Store - https://thenimsstore.com/ [https://thenimsstore.com/?utm_source=em-morning-brief] SOURCES WILDFIRE (NATIONAL) • NIFC National Fire News [https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn?utm_source=em-morning-brief]: national wildfire summary, large fire counts, personnel, and year to date acres • NIFC Incident Management Situation Report [https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdf?utm_source=em-morning-brief]: daily situation report listing large fires by state, acreage, and containment FIRE WEATHER AND SEVERE WEATHER • NOAA Storm Prediction Center Day 1 Outlook [https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1otlk.html?utm_source=em-morning-brief]: Extremely Critical fire weather outlook for parts of Utah, Arizona, and Nevada • NWS Weather Prediction Center [https://www.noaa.gov/weather-prediction-center?utm_source=em-morning-brief]: central U.S. flash flooding and heat outlook • NWS Active Alerts [https://www.weather.gov/alerts?utm_source=em-morning-brief]: active flood watches, warnings, and heat alerts nationwide CISA • CISA Adds Two Known Exploited Vulnerabilities to Catalog [https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2026/06/25/cisa-adds-two-known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?utm_source=em-morning-brief]: June 25 alert adding CVE-2026-12569 and CVE-2026-20230 • CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog [https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?utm_source=em-morning-brief]: the KEV catalog of record FDA • FDA Recalls, Market Withdrawals, and Safety Alerts [https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts?utm_source=em-morning-brief]: FDA recall listing • Medline cardiovascular kit recall report [https://cardiovascularbusiness.com/topics/clinical/cardiac-surgery/thousands-heart-surgery-kits-recalled-due-fda-quality-concerns?utm_source=em-morning-brief]: coverage of the June 25 Class I recall of surgical kits ARIZONA • AZ Emergency Information Network: Pocket Fire SET status [https://ein.az.gov/pocket-fire-update-oak-creek-canyon-decreased-set-status?utm_source=em-morning-brief]: Oak Creek Canyon evacuation reduced from GO to SET • Coconino National Forest: Pocket Fire evacuations [https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/newsroom/releases/evacuations-oak-creek-canyon-ordered-due-pocket-fire-north-sedona?utm_source=em-morning-brief]: Forest Service release on Oak Creek Canyon orders and closures • Sedona Red Rock News: Pocket Fire grows to 1,187 acres [https://www.redrocknews.com/2026/06/25/pocket-fire-seven-miles-north-of-sedona-grows-to-1187-acres-as-seen-in-photos-videos-and-maps/?utm_source=em-morning-brief]: acreage and personnel update COLORADO • Colorado Public Radio: Dry Creek Fire evacuations lifted [https://www.cpr.org/2026/06/25/evacuation-orders-lifted-dry-creek-fire/?utm_source=em-morning-brief]: containment and evacuation status near Rifle • CBS Colorado: Mesa County evacuation notice lifted [https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/wildfire-evacuations-mesa-county-colorado/?utm_source=em-morning-brief]: Mesa County wildfire evacuation update KANSAS • Kansas Severe Flood Warning (GovOneStop / NWS) [https://www.govonestop.com/nws/kansas-severe-flood-warning-effective-06252026-0618?utm_source=em-morning-brief]: flood warning for southwest and west central Kansas counties • KAKE: Flash flooding hits Kansas counties [https://www.kake.com/home/flash-flooding-hits-kansas-counties-after-heavy-rainstorm/article_8ecc4769-4458-48f5-9cb2-685da1ae21af.html?utm_source=em-morning-brief]: road closures and flooding impacts OKLAHOMA • NWS Tulsa [https://www.weather.gov/tsa/?utm_source=em-morning-brief]: Flood Watch for northeastern Oklahoma and rainfall outlook UTAH • ABC4: Governor Cox on the Cottonwood Fire [https://www.abc4.com/utah-weather/wildfire/cottonwood-fire-beaver-utah/?utm_source=em-morning-brief]: Cottonwood Fire acreage, containment, and evacuation status • ABC4: Cottonwood Fire burns over 70,000 acres [https://www.abc4.com/utah-weather/wildfire/cottonwood-fire-burns-acres-contained/?utm_source=em-morning-brief]: updated acreage and 0 percent containment • Gephardt Daily: Iron Fire update [https://gephardtdaily.com/local/iron-fire-tops-37k-acres-now-17-contained-evacuations-remain-in-place/?utm_source=em-morning-brief]: Iron Fire acreage, containment, and Eureka evacuations WILDFIRES BY STATE (NATIONAL SITUATION REPORT) • NIFC Incident Management Situation Report [https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdf?utm_source=em-morning-brief]: South Fork Fire (Nebraska), Bear Fire (New Mexico), and Washington fires NEVADA • The Watchers: Extremely Critical fire weather outlook [https://watchers.news/2026/06/25/extremely-critical-fire-weather-outlook-issued-for-parts-of-utah-arizona-and-nevada/?utm_source=em-morning-brief]: fire weather risk for parts of Utah, Arizona, and Nevada