Three firefighters killed responding to wildfires on Colorado-Utah border

Three firefighters have died while responding to wildfires along the Utah-Colorado border, according to the US Wildland Fire Service. Two other crew members were injured in the same operation, the agency said, as crews worked on the Knowles and Gore fires. The deaths were reported on Sunday amid a severe wildfire season across the western United States.

Sponsored

The agency said the firefighters were responding to the two fires when the fatalities occurred, but did not immediately release further details. It said more information would be provided shortly. The service also said it was grieving the loss and supporting the families of those killed.

The incident comes as hot, dry and windy weather has continued to drive fire activity across the region. Nationwide, nearly three million acres, or about 1.2 million hectares, have burned since the start of the year, according to the figures cited by authorities. That total is above the 10-year average, underscoring the scale of the current season.

At least three dozen fires burning in the United States on Sunday were classified as uncontained. Utah and Colorado both declared state emergencies over the past week in response to the fire threat. The emergency declarations gave state leaders wider powers to respond to the fires and, in Utah, allowed a ban on fireworks ahead of the 4 July holiday.

Sponsored

Utah Governor Spencer Cox said on Sunday that the state was mourning three people he described as heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting lives and communities along the border. Colorado Governor Jared Polis declared an emergency on Saturday and authorised the use of the National Guard to help tackle the fires. Officials in both states have warned that persistent drought and dry conditions are creating above-normal wildfire potential.

The deaths highlight the pressure on firefighting crews during a season that has already stretched resources across the western US. The Knowles and Gore fires are part of a wider pattern of blazes linked by authorities to prolonged drought and dry conditions. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has said climate change has increased the chances of wildfires in recent years by contributing to high temperatures, extended droughts and dry conditions that fuel fires.

Arizona has also been hit recently, with fires burning south of the Grand Canyon and near Kendrick Mountain. What remains unclear is the exact circumstances of the firefighters' deaths and the condition of the two injured crew members. Authorities have said more details will follow, and the scale of the fires may continue to change as crews work to contain them.

#wildfire #firefighters #Colorado #Utah #emergencydeclaration

Sponsored