Three Firefighters Killed Fighting Knowles, Gore, And Snyder Wildfires Near Colorado-Utah Border
Key Takeaways
- Three federal firefighters died, two injured, battling Knowles, Gore, and Snyder fires near the border.
- They deployed emergency shelters during a burnover as flames overtook crews in hot, windy conditions.
- The deaths occurred during a multi-agency response involving U.S. Wildland Fire Service and Forest Service.
Burnover kills three
Three firefighters were killed and two sustained burn injuries when they were overcome by flames from fast-moving wildfires in hot, windy conditions near the Colorado-Utah border on Saturday in Mesa County, Colorado.
“3 firefighters killed, 2 injured responding to Snyder wildfire on Utah-Colorado border Several wildfires were burn on Saturday across the West”
The incident occurred during a burnover, which the U.S. Interior Department said happens when a fire spreads and closes off all escape routes, and the firefighters deployed emergency shelters for themselves.
They were part of an interagency response to the Knowles and Gore fires, which merged with other fires to form the Snyder Fire, and the U.S. Wildland Fire Service said the crew was working alongside the U.S. Forest Service.
So far, about 44 square miles (114 square kilometers) have burned, and the National Weather Service reported temperatures in Grand Junction hit a high of 93 degrees Fahrenheit (34 degrees Celsius) with winds gusting to 44 mph (71 kph).
Officials mourn and respond
The U.S. Wildland Fire Service said in a statement that it "stands united" with the Forest Service in grief and "in our unwavering support for the loved ones left behind," adding that "Their bravery, dedication, and sacrifice will never be forgotten."
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said, "I’m devastated about the loss of three heroic firefighters who died in the line of duty in Western Colorado," while also noting that some firefighters were still battling the flames.
The U.S. Department of the Interior said the names of the firefighters who perished were being withheld pending notifications to their loved ones.
On the ground, the Mesa County Sheriff's Office asked people to evacuate the potential path of the fire and to turn on irrigation water to saturate the land, while the federal Bureau of Land Management closed public access to lands it manages nearby.
Fire danger and next steps
The Snyder Fire was described as burning on the Colorado-Utah border west of Grand Junction, and the Mesa County Sheriff's Office said it had burned over 28,000 acres with no containment as of June 27.
“Three firefighters were killed and two sustained burn injuries when they were overcome by flames from in hot, windy conditions near the Colorado-Utah border”
In Utah, the largest blaze, the Cottonwood Fire, was burning out of control in southwest Utah and ballooned Sunday to more than 146 square miles (378 square kilometers), destroying part of a ski resort and other summer cabins along the way.
The PBS report said wildfire activity has intensified across the Western United States as consecutive days of hot, dry and windy weather fueled flames in Utah, Arizona and elsewhere, and it noted that the danger was higher this year because of Utah's record-low snowpack and its warmest winter on record.
The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for the Western Slope, and the Mesa County Sheriff's Office pre-evacuation notices and closures of public lands were tied to reducing exposure to hazardous situations due to rapid rates of spread and fire behavior.
More on Technology and Science
WHO Links Europe Heatwave To More Than 1,300 Excess Deaths Since June 21
16 sources compared
Cottonwood Fire Spreads in Utah, Blackening 92,000 Acres and Forcing Closures
12 sources compared
The New York Times Sues Microsoft And OpenAI Over ChatGPT Copyright Infringement
20 sources compared
OpenAI Limits GPT-5.6 Rollout After U.S. Government Request For Trusted Partners
15 sources compared