Interior Names 3 Firefighters Killed in Colorado's 28,000-Acre Knowles Fire
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 29
Interior Names 3 Firefighters Killed in Colorado's 28,000-Acre Knowles Fire
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 29
Summary
The Interior Department identified the three firefighters killed Saturday on the Utah-Colorado border as Emily Barker, 38, Nick Hutcherson, 27, and Sydney Watson, 27; two other crew members were injured.
The helitack crew was trying to contain the Knowles fire in western Colorado and deployed tent-like emergency shelters, but the flames overwhelmed them, according to AP.
The Knowles fire has merged with two others into the Snyder Mesa fire, which Colorado estimates has burned more than 28,000 acres.
Dry, hot weather and high winds have driven wildfires across the West and Alaska, prompting emergency declarations in Colorado and Utah and a Utah fireworks ban through the Fourth of July.
Interior said a serious accident investigation team is reviewing the deaths as state and federal agencies continue firefighting and recovery operations.