Three firefighters were killed and two others injured Saturday while they tackled wildfires on the Colorado-Utah border, the U.S. Wildland Fire Service announced. The agency said the crew members had been part of an interagency response to the Knowles and Gore fires.
"The U.S. Wildland Fire Service stands united with the USDA Forest Service in grief and in our unwavering support for the loved ones left behind," the service said in a statement on Facebook. "Their bravery, dedication, and sacrifice will never be forgotten."
In a press release, the Department of the Interior said the five firefighters were involved in a "burnover incident," which happens when firefighters are overtaken and have to shelter as best they can while a fire passes directly over them. The department said the two firefighters who survived were being treated for burn injuries.
Fires in Utah, Colorado and Arizona have been intensifying, thanks to days of low humidity, high temperatures and strong winds. The conditions have pushed fire behavior to extremes not commonly seen in the region, stretching resources and forcing the governors of both Utah and Colorado to declare emergencies.
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