3 firefighters die fighting Snyder Fire near Colorado-Utah border
Smoke billows over Sorrento Valley as firefighters battle the fast-moving Sorrento Fire near the Interstate 5 and Interstate 805 interchange in San Diego, California, on June 08, 2026. (Photo by Wai Lee Michael Ho/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The fast-moving flames of a wildfire burning near the Colorado-Utah border claimed the lives of three firefighters and injured two others who had huddled inside emergency shelters to escape the blaze.
Big picture view:
The firefighters were battling the Snyder Fire in Mesa County, Colorado, on Saturday when they were caught in a burnover incident, which occurs when the growing fire cuts off all escape routes, and they needed to deploy the shelters, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior.
What we know:
The firefighters worked for the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Wildland Fire Service, which was created this year to streamline firefighting and fire reduction efforts on public lands. They were part of the response to the Knowles and Gore fires that merged to become the Snyder Fire and have now burned approximately 44 square miles.
What we don't know:
The names of the firefighters have not been released, pending notification of their families, the Interior Department stated.
What they're saying:
The Wildland Fire Service said in a statement that they stand united with the Forest Service in grief and "in our unwavering support for the loved ones left behind. Their bravery, dedication, and sacrifice will never be forgotten."
The backstory:
Hot, dry, and windy weather have created the perfect storm this year to fuel wildfires in Utah, Arizona, and elsewhere across the western United States. National Weather Service forecasters have issued repeated red flag warnings stretching from California to New Mexico.
Dig deeper:
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox declared an emergency for his state earlier this week and cleared the way for a Fourth of July fireworks ban. State officials there noted the increase in wildfire starts and indicated each blaze is burning in unprecedented ways. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis issued an emergency declaration on Saturday and authorized the use of the National Guard to help stymie the flames.
The largest of the wildfires, the Cottonwood Fire in south-west Utah, has charred more than 144 square miles of land, working its way down canyons and up mountains. It has destroyed a ski resort and other summer cabins along the way.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from The Associated Press. This story was reported from Orlando.