A fast-moving Utah wildfire has left vacation-property owners facing heavy losses at Eagle Point Ski Resort after flames reached the Beaver County mountain community.
Resort officials said about 130 privately owned condos and 30 cabins were damaged or destroyed by the Cottonwood Fire, according to KMYU/KUTV.
The resort also said roughly 300 of its 600 acres of ski terrain burned on the south side of the mountain.
For families with cabins, condos, and second homes in wildfire-prone areas, the damage shows how quickly a seasonal property can become part of a major fire-loss event, even when no one is staying there at the time.
The Fire Hit Privately Owned Condos and Cabins
Eagle Point Ski Resort said four of its five chairlifts sustained damage.
One of the resort’s two day lodges was destroyed, along with a warming station, snowmobiles, vehicles, storage containers, and other infrastructure.
Resort officials said everyone at the property was evacuated safely and no lives were lost there. The damage assessment is still ongoing, so final counts may take time to confirm.
Some Resort Infrastructure Was Spared
The Skyline Lodge, the Monarch lift, nearby north-side terrain, snowmaking pond, and snowmaking equipment remained intact, according to the resort update cited by KUTV.
Two properties on the same mountain can face very different outcomes depending on wind, slope, vegetation, access roads, defensible space, and where crews are able to hold the line.
Owners waiting for access should rely on official instructions before returning, since burned areas can still have unstable structures, damaged utilities, ash hazards, weakened trees, and blocked roads.
The Cottonwood Fire Is Still Active
USA Today’s wildfire tracker listed the Cottonwood Fire at 93,918 acres and 4% contained, with the cause still undetermined. The fire was discovered June 22 near Beaver, Utah.
KUTV reported that nearby communities, including Marysvale, Junction, and Circleville, were advised to prepare for possible evacuation if conditions worsened.
Beaver County officials also began limited escorted access for homeowners and cabin owners in the Eagle Point and Kents Lake areas.
Cabin Owners Need Plans Before Fire Season
Seasonal homes can be harder to protect because owners may live hours away and may not know when dry grass, pine needles, deck debris, or stacked firewood has built up around the structure.
Ready.gov advises creating a fire-resistant zone free of leaves, debris, and flammable materials for at least 30 feet around a home.
For cabins and vacation properties, that means arranging pre-season cleanup, photographing the structure and contents, checking insurance coverage, saving ownership and HOA documents, and making sure local officials or property managers have current owner contact information before a wildfire starts.