The first widespread heat wave of the summer builds across the Intermountain West and Plains as dangerous heat holds over the Southwest and Southeast, and severe storms bring flash flooding from the central Plains to the Mid-Atlantic. The nation stays at Preparedness Level 4 with 37 large fires burning, led by Utah’s Babylon Fire at more than 102,000 acres. Colorado moves Aspen Acres evacuation zones to pre-evacuation status, Idaho drops Claremont Fire evacuations to Level 1, and Washington holds Level 3 orders on the deadly Chelan Hills Fire. In the Pacific, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands make steady power restoration progress after Super Typhoon Bavi. 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

• Heat wave: The first widespread heat wave of the summer develops across the Intermountain West and Plains and expands through next week, with Extreme Heat Warnings for the Phoenix area through Friday evening and highs up to 116 degrees.

• Wildfire posture: The nation remains at Preparedness Level 4 with 37 large fires; year-to-date acreage runs 146 percent of the ten-year average, and Utah’s Babylon Fire is the largest active fire in the country at 102,932 acres and 21 percent containment.

• Colorado evacuations ease: Fremont County moves Aspen Acres evacuation areas to pre-evacuation status and the Pueblo County Sheriff anticipates lifting southern Pueblo County evacuations today, with re-entry passes required and a nighttime curfew in effect.

• Idaho improves: The Claremont Fire in the Boise Foothills reaches 23 percent containment and all evacuation zones drop to Level 1, Get Ready, with estimated containment July 12.

• Washington holds Level 3: The Chelan Hills Fire near Orondo is 50 percent contained at 9,735 acres; Level 3 evacuation orders remain, the fire is tied to one death, and well over 100 structures are involved.

• Guam and CNMI recovery: Guam Power Authority reports 49 of 67 feeders partially energized with adequate generation capacity, the Port of Guam reopens, and Saipan nears pre-typhoon power while Rota faces a lengthy recovery.

• Cyber: CISA releases three industrial control systems advisories; ICS and OT operators should review affected products and apply vendor mitigations.

• Water: West Columbia, South Carolina issues a boil water advisory after a water main break; affected residents should boil water until the advisory is lifted.

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Sources

NIFC and Wildfire

• NIFC National Fire News: national preparedness level, large fire summary, and statistics

NWS and Weather

• National Weather Service: severe thunderstorms, excessive rainfall, and heat wave headline

• WPC Short Range Discussion: heat wave and excessive rainfall outlook

• NWS Phoenix: Extreme Heat Warning details for the Phoenix area

• NWS Mount Holly: Flash Flood Warnings for the NJ, DE, and PA area

CISA

• CISA ICS Advisories: industrial control systems advisories released July 9

National Hurricane Center

• NHC: Atlantic tropical outlook, no active cyclones

FEMA

• FEMA: presidential emergency declaration for Guam, Typhoon Bavi

• FEMA blog: support to Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands during Super Typhoon Bavi

Arizona

• Arizona Emergency Information Network: Pocket Fire update, 69 percent containment

• InciWeb: Pocket Fire incident page

Colorado

• Colorado DHSEM: State EOC update for July 9, Aspen Acres and Ferris Fires

• InciWeb: Aspen Acres Fire incident page

• InciWeb: Ferris Fire incident page

Idaho

• KTVB: Boise County reduces Claremont Fire evacuations to Level 1

• KIVI: Claremont Fire acreage, containment, closures, and shelter status

Nevada

• InciWeb: Dutch Flat Fire incident page

New Mexico

• InciWeb: Sacaton Fire incident page

• Yahoo News weather: Sacaton Fire tops 9,000 acres as crews protect cabins

South Carolina

• City of West Columbia: boil water advisory issued July 9

Utah

• InciWeb: Babylon Fire incident page

• ABC4: Babylon Fire nears 103,000 acres as heat threatens fire growth

• InciWeb: Cottonwood Fire incident page

Washington

• InciWeb: Chelan Hills Fire incident page

• KIRO 7: Chelan Hills Fire evacuations, structures, and cause investigation

Guam

• Guam Homeland Security JIC: Recovery Release No. 11, power restoration update

• Kandit News: GPA updated focus areas as of 11:30 a.m., July 10, 2026

• Maui Now: Port of Guam reopens after Super Typhoon Bavi

Northern Mariana Islands

• Marianas News Service: CUC power update, Saipan nears pre-Bavi power