Three Wildland Firefighters Killed in Colorado Blaze
Key takeaways
- Two other firefighters survived the incident and were being treated for burns.
- “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.
- We deliver climate news to your inbox like nobody else.
Why this matters: environmental and climate reporting with long-term consequences.
Republish Wildland firefighters stage on Baseline Road in Boulder, Colo., as a helicopter crew works to battle a fire near Chautauqua on Feb. 28. Credit: Matthew Jonas/Media News Group/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images Related Why Wildfire Experts Are So Worried About This Year’s Fire Season Forest Service Shake-Up Comes As Risky Wildfire Season Looms USDA Says It Needs Roads to Fight Remote Wildfires, but a New Study Says Roads Bring More Fire to Forests Share This Article Republish Most Popular A Pipeline Company Says It Will Protect the Environment in North Carolina. Its Record in Tennessee Says Otherwise. Can Clusters of Human-Constructed Ponds in the Arizona Desert Save a Threatened Frog? As Colorado River States Struggle to Reach Agreement, New Mexico Brings on a Fresh Voice Three wildland firefighters died over the weekend battling a blaze that was rapidly expanding across a remote area in western Colorado. The helicopter-based crew was making the initial attack on a fire that had spread over the Utah border and joined with several others burning in the area.
Two other firefighters survived the incident and were being treated for burns. The team had been forced to deploy fire shelters—small, reflective blankets—as they were overtaken by flames, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
“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, in a statement. “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.”