MESA COUNTY, Co. – A 38-year-old Clinton Township woman was among three firefighters who were killed on Saturday while responding to a wildfire in western Colorado near the Utah boarder.
Emily Barker, a member of the U.S. Forest Service Rifle Helitack crew, was assigned to the Knowles and Gore fires when a fast-moving burnover incident led to emergency conditions, trapping her and several other first responders.
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Nick Hutcherson, 27, of Glendale, Ariz., and Sydney Watson, 26, of Warrior, Ala., were also killed. Hutcherson was a member of the U.S. Forest Service Kaibab National Forest, and Watson was assigned to the U.S. Wildland Fire Service Rifle Helitack.
All three were dispatched to the fire as part of the helitack crew, a team of firefighters transported by helicopter to quickly respond and assess a wildfire. Once on the ground, helitack crew members build firelines — or cleared strips of land — using hand tools, chainsaws and other firefighting tools.
Fire shelters were immediately deployed when conditions worsened, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior. Two other firefighters on the crew survived and are being treated for injuries.
“This is an incredibly difficult moment for the entire wildland fire community,” said Forest Service Deputy Chief Sarah Fisher, in a statement. “Our heavy hearts are with the families during this unimaginable time. We recognize the tremendous impact this loss has on them and are deeply grateful for the devotion their loved ones brought to our organizations. We will honor their memory with compassion and support as their selfless service and commitment create an enduring legacy.”
The Knowles and Gores fires have since merged with the Snyder fire and latest estimates suggest that more than 28,000 acres have burned along the Colorado-Utah border.
The circumstances surrounding the firefighters’ deaths remain under investigation and as of Monday morning the fire was still 0% contained.