Wildfires blazed through a Utah mountain area famous for rare plants, prompting Utah to ban fireworks statewide.
Forecasts predict extreme fire danger in the Four Corners region this weekend.
Fire crews in several western states faced high winds and drought, delaying containment.
The Western States 100 ultramarathon began in California, heralding 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 experienced increased queues and more calls after moving customers to FirstBank accounts.
Western Midstream Partners initiated building a second produced‑water treatment plant in Texas.