Three firefighters died Saturday morning while battling a massive convergence of three (some reports say four) wildfires in southwest Colorado, along the Utah border. The emergency shelters they deployed were not sufficient to protect them in the extreme conditions.
Sparked by lightning, the fires converged in Mesa County and formed the Snyder Fire. At last report this morning it had burned 44 square miles (114 square kilometers or 28,000 acres). There was zero containment.
Emily Barker, 38, of Clinton Township, Michigan, was assigned to the U.S. Forest Service Rifle Helitack. Nick Hutcherson, 27, of Glendale, Arizona, was assigned to the U.S. Forest Service Kaibab National Forest. Sydney Watson, 26, of Warrior, Alabama, was assigned to the U.S. Wildland Fire Service Rifle Helitack.
R.I.P.
Emily Barker
Nick Hutcherson
Sydney Watson
so sad
Heartbreaking. Such a dangerous job, and yet people keep stepping up to do it.
Heartbreaking- heroes all. Emily’s hometown is only about an hour from me
These men and women, these heroes, come together from all over the country when there’s a fire, and all too often they must come to Colorado. We are forever grateful.
How sad for their families and for all firefighters who mourn with them, too, as well as any compassionate person.
It’s happened all too often in a state where fighting wildfires often occurs in difficult mountainous terrain.