3 Firefighters Die on Colorado-Utah Border as Cottonwood Fire Swells to 144 Square Miles
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 28
3 Firefighters Die on Colorado-Utah Border as Cottonwood Fire Swells to 144 Square Miles
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 28
Summary
Three firefighters were killed and two injured Saturday while responding to the Knowles and Gore fires on the Colorado-Utah border, the U.S. Wildland Fire Service said Sunday.
Hot, dry and windy weather has intensified fire behavior across Utah and the wider West, with Utah facing record-low snowpack, its warmest winter on record and severe drought.
The Cottonwood Fire in southwest Utah grew to more than 144 square miles, burning through canyons and mountainsides and destroying part of a ski resort and nearby summer cabins.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox had already declared an emergency and cleared the way for a fireworks ban, while Colorado Governor Jared Polis declared an emergency Saturday and activated the National Guard.
Nearly 3 million acres have burned nationwide this year—above the 10-year average—as crews from Alaska to Florida fight dozens of large, uncontained fires.
As megafires intensify, can ancient Indigenous fire practices be the key to protecting the modern American West?
Beyond the flames, are vulnerable communities being adequately protected from the toxic threat of wildfire smoke?
Decades of fire suppression have failed. How can we learn to live with fire instead of only fighting it?
The 2026 Cottonwood Fire: Utah’s Largest Wildfire Exposes Deadly Risks, Human Causes, and Water Threats
Overview
The report highlights the severe human and environmental costs of the 2026 wildfire season in Utah and Colorado. The Snyder Fire tragically claimed the lives of three firefighters and injured two others as crews battled extreme weather conditions—high winds, low humidity, and dry fuels—that intensified the blaze, accelerated its growth, and made containment difficult. These perilous conditions created a dangerous environment, increasing the risk of critical incidents for personnel. Meanwhile, the Cottonwood Fire ignited in Beaver County and rapidly expanded, demonstrating how volatile weather and human activity together drive devastating wildfires and challenge emergency response efforts.