Three firefighters killed, two injured while battling wildfires on Utah-Colorado border
The US Wildland Fire Service announced on Sunday that three firefighters were killed and two injured while responding to wildfires along the Colorado-Utah border. The blazes continue to spread amid hot, dry and windy conditions.
Three firefighters were killed and two others were hurt while battling wildfires along the Colorado-Utah border, the US Wildland Fire Service announced on Sunday. The agency, established in January to coordinate wildfire suppression and prevention across public lands, said the firefighters were involved in a joint response to the Knowles and Gore fires on Saturday.
“The US Wildland Fire Service stands united with the USDA Forest Service in grief and in our unwavering support for the loved ones left behind,” it said in a Facebook statement. “Their bravery, dedication, and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
Wildfire activity has increased across the western US after several days of hot, dry and windy weather fueled fires in Utah, Arizona and other parts of the region, while additional blazes ignited. In Utah, hundreds of firefighters have been working to contain a wildfire that by Saturday had expanded by more than 20,000 acres (8,000 hectares). State officials said low humidity and strong winds contributed to its rapid growth.
The Cottonwood fire began on Monday in Fishlake National Forest in central Utah. According to the US Forest Service, it grew overnight from about 70,000 acres to over 92,000 acres by Saturday morning. The National Interagency Fire Center said the fire remained 0% contained and was the largest active wildfire in the US.
Earlier in the week, Utah Governor Spencer Cox declared a state of emergency due to severe fire conditions and authorized a statewide fireworks ban ahead of the Fourth of July holiday. Colorado Governor Jared Polis also declared a state of emergency on Saturday and approved deployment of the National Guard to assist firefighting efforts.
In recent days, the National Weather Service issued red flag warnings across a broad section of the West, including California, Arizona and New Mexico. Power shutoffs have become increasingly common as wildfire danger grows. Rocky Mountain Power shut off electrical lines serving Beaver County and surrounding areas.
Nearly 3 million acres have burned across the country since the beginning of the year, exceeding the 10-year average. Utah faces an even greater wildfire threat this year due to record-low snowpack and the warmest winter ever recorded.
