Blistering heat and strong winds stoked wildfires across the West on a Sunday in late June after three firefighters were killed a day earlier in Colorado while battling a blaze along the state border with Utah.
The National Weather Service stated that wildfire conditions remained critical across the Southwest, noting high risk in the Four Corners region. The agency warned of extreme fire behavior along the Utah-Colorado border where rapid fire growth was likely.
The firefighters were killed and two others sustained burn injuries when they were overcome by flames on Saturday in Mesa County, according to the U.S. Interior Department. The incident occurred during a burnover where fire spread and closed off escape routes. The individuals worked for the U.S. Wildland Fire Service and U.S. Forest Service as part of an interagency response to the Knowles and Gore fires, which merged into the Snyder Fire.
About 44 square miles had burned in that area at the time of reporting. The U.S. Wildland Fire Service released a statement saying it stands united with the Forest Service in grief and support for the families of the deceased. Names of the firefighters were withheld pending notification to their loved ones.
In southwest Utah, the Cottonwood Fire grew to more than 146 square miles after moving through canyons and mountainsides, destroying part of a ski resort. The cause of that fire was under investigation.
Extreme weather conditions, including temperatures reaching 93 degrees Fahrenheit and wind gusts of 44 mph in Grand Junction, contributed to the fire activity. The Mesa County Sheriff's Office requested evacuations from the potential path of the fire, while the Bureau of Land Management closed public access to nearby managed lands.
Utah officials noted that the danger is increased this year due to a record-low snowpack and the warmest winter on record. Governor Spencer Cox declared an emergency last week and banned fireworks ahead of the July Fourth holiday. Similarly, Colorado Governor Jared Polis declared an emergency on Saturday, authorizing the use of the National Guard.
