Wildfires blazed through a Utah mountain area famous for rare plants, prompting Utah to prohibit fireworks statewide.
Forecasts predict 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 started in California, heralding the start of a grueling race.
In western North Carolina, officials set up cooling centers to help residents beat the heat.
Colorado’s Western Slope bank branches experienced longer lines and more calls after moving customers to FirstBank accounts.
Western Midstream Partners started building a second produced‑water treatment plant in Texas.