A fourth firefighter, Nathan Matthews, has died from injuries sustained June 29 while fighting what ultimately became the Snyder Fire in southwest Colorado. That fire was 100% contained as of July 18, after burning 28,264 acres.
Matthews, 43, from Lincoln, Neb., was serving with the U.S. Wildland Fire Service as part of the Rifle Helitack crew. He and four companions were caught in a burnover and with no way to escape, deployed their portable shelters. Three of them perished that day: Emily Barker, 38, of Clinton Township, Mich.; Nick Hutcherson, 27, of Glendale, Ariz.; and Sydney Watson, 27, of Warrior, Ala. Matthews and a fifth firefighter were hospitalized with critical injuries.
Local reports today said a helicopter did attempt a rescue at the time, but winds were so strong (gusting up to 50 mph) and erratic that it was unable to land.
Knowles died July 24 and received an honor escort today from Denver to Grand Junction, where his daughter was waiting.
Flags in Colorado and Nebraska will fly at half staff today.
R.I.P.
Nathan Matthews
Such brave and selfless people, firies (that’s what we call them).
It’s really good to celebrate them, when what they do is so magnificent, Colorado.
And to mourn deeply their losses …
No amount of gratitude is enough for what these men and women do for us. We’ve had multiple fires ongoing in Colorado since early this summer, all due to a near historic drought and record heat. And still they come from across the country, still they risk everything to stop the fires, save the businesses, homes, people, pets …
That is beyond sad to lose a firefighter like that.
Devastating. Heartbreaking. And can you imagine how that chopper pilot felt, coworkers trapped on the ground below him and he couldn’t land …
I just read another report that said the chopper couldn’t land because of smoke.
so very sad –
yes
This is more evidence of what everyone knows, that some professions are more dangerous than others. Some such are loggers, commercial fishers, roofers, and the military, especially certain subspecialties such as SEALS, aviators and submariners. Speaking from persional experience, people go into such professions knowing the statistical risk because the sense of adventure and/or the prestige, and sometimes financial benefit, outweigh it. Praise is justified, but with the knowledge that nobody expects to pay the ultimate price. Such is life.
There may be an initial choice involved, the choice of where to take the risks — financial considerations notwithstanding. Fishers and submariners love the sea, aviators love to fly, loggers love the woods. Perhaps with wildland firefighters it’s a love of the outdoors and the forests and what they mean to the people who live there. And more than one of them has been out there fighting the flames while their own home burned.
I single out wildland firefighters in particular because I know and love the mountains and lifestyles they fight to save. Because it’s personal. Because they once saved my brother’s house. I’ve been on the slopes, in the woods, along the trails where they have to work and can’t imagine being there with flames towering around and above me.
All true. I felt good being part of something bigger than myself in the USN. Risk was not part of my youthful reasoning.
so very, very heartbreaking