The US Department of Interior on Monday released the names of three firefighters who were killed while working to contain wildfires along the Utah-Colorado border.
Two other firefighters who were part of the specialized helicopter-deployed crew were also injured in the blaze, although authorities did not identify them.
Thirty-eight-year-old Emily Barker of Michigan, 27-year-old Nick Hutcherson of Arizona and 27-year-old Sydney Watson of Alabama were killed on Saturday as they fought the Knowles fire in western Colorado. The crew attempted to use tent-like shelters to guard themselves from the fires but were overcome, according to the Associated Press.
Thousands of firefighters have been deployed across western US states and Alaska to fight a series of wildfires this month, which have spread as dry, hot weather along with high winds helped fuel their growth.
Utah’s governor, Spencer Cox, declared a state of emergency last week and a ban on personal fireworks until after the Fourth of July in response to the dangerous conditions. The Colorado governor, Jared Polis, on Saturday announced a similar state of emergency.
The three firefighters killed over the weekend were part of a Helitack crew that provides rapid response to wildfires, often by being dropped in remote locations that are otherwise inaccessible.
The Knowles fire they were sent to combat has merged with two other fires to form the Snyder Mesa fire, which the Colorado governor’s office estimates has burned over 28,000 acres.
Governor Polis issued a statement on Sunday mourning the deaths of Barker, Hutcherson and Watson, and said that the state was working with the Bureau of Land Management, Colorado national guard and other officials to fight the fires and recover their bodies.
“The men and women who serve on the frontlines of these fires risk their lives to keep us safe and to protect the lands and communities we love,” Polis said. “To the loved ones of those lost, and to their fellow crew members – some who are still battling the flames – know that the state of Colorado mourns alongside you.”
Several other politicians and agencies also issued statements, including Cox and Michigan’s governor, Gretchen Whitmer. The Department of Interior also announced that it had mobilized a “serious accident investigation team” to review the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“This is an incredibly difficult moment for the entire wildland fire community,” the Forest Service deputy chief, Sarah Fisher, said in a statement. “Our heavy hearts are with the families during this unimaginable time. We recognize the tremendous impact this loss has on them and are deeply grateful for the devotion their loved ones brought to our organizations.”
