An active wildfire that’s burning in western Colorado along the Utah border turned deadly over the weekend, with the tragic deaths of multiple firefighters who had traveled to the Centennial State to fight the blaze.

Per reporting from the U.S. Department of Interior, three firefighters were killed during the response to the Knowles Fire on June 27, which has since been overtaken by the larger Snyder Fire. The Snyder Fire merged with the Jones fire, which moved into the area of the Knowles and Gore fires. This fire complex is now being referred to as the Snyder Fire in official reporting, estimated at more than 28,000 acres in size with no containment at last report.

The three firefighters who were killed were identified as Emily Barker, 38 and of the Clinton Township in Michigan (assigned to U.S. Forest Service Rifle Helitack), Nick Hutcherson, 27 and of Glendale, Arizona (assigned to U.S. Forest Service Kaibab National Forest), and Sydney Watson, 27 and of Warrior, Alabama (assigned to U.S. Wildland Fire Service Rifle Helitack). In addition to the three deaths, two other firefighters were injured and are receiving medical care.

Per reporting from Denver Gazette’s Scott Weiser, the firefighters who were killed and the two who were injured were attempting to use wildland fire shelters amid a burnover at the time. This is a last-resort piece of equipment all firefighters carry, and while the shelters can be useful in preventing injury and death, they do have limits in the most intense conditions.

As the Snyder Fire remains active, it’s closed access to two state wildlife areas in Mesa County, including Horsethief State Wildlife Area and Loma Boat Launch State Wildlife Area, also shutting down downstream river traffic at the boat ramp in the Fruita section of the James M. Robb-Colorado River State Park. As a result, all boaters on the Colorado River need to end their travel at the Fruita boat ramp or a boat ramp that’s farther upstream.

“We mourn the loss of three firefighters who answered the call to protect others and made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their fellow citizens,” said U.S. Wildland Fire Service Chief Brian Fennessy. “Our thoughts are with their families, loved ones, friends and crewmates as they face an unimaginable loss. These firefighters embodied the courage, professionalism and selflessness that define the wildland fire service. Please join me and my family in keeping our thoughts and prayers with the families of the fallen and our injured firefighters and their families.”

STAY INFORMED: Get free Colorado news with our daily newsletter (Click here)