Key facts
- Three firefighters died battling wildfires along the Colorado-Utah border.
- The firefighters were involved in a "burnover incident" where they were overtaken by flames.
- Dozens of wildfires are burning across the Western U.S. due to hot, dry, and windy weather.
- Utah has imposed restrictions on Fourth of July fireworks due to extreme fire conditions.
- Colorado declared a disaster emergency in Mesa County, authorizing National Guard support.
Three firefighters have died and two were injured while battling wildfires along the Colorado-Utah border, officials confirmed. The incident occurred during a "burnover" event, where crews were overtaken by fast-moving flames, according to the U.S. Wildland Fire Service. The Snyder Fire, a combination of several blazes including the Knowles and Gore fires, had consumed over 28,000 acres by Sunday morning.
In response to the escalating wildfire situation, Colorado Governor Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency in Mesa County, authorizing the deployment of the National Guard. Another wildfire, the Gold Mountain Fire, prompted mandatory evacuations in Ouray County, Colorado. Utah's Governor Spencer Cox announced significant restrictions on Fourth of July fireworks, citing historic drought conditions and unprecedented fire behavior that have strained firefighting resources.
The National Weather Service issued its highest "extremely critical" fire weather risk warning for the Four Corners region, anticipating extreme fire behavior. While a cold front brought improved conditions with higher humidity and lower temperatures by Sunday evening, the threat of dry air and winds remains a concern.
The Cottonwood Fire, Utah's largest active blaze, has grown to nearly 100,000 acres, making it potentially the state's most destructive wildfire on record. Officials believe it is likely Utah's most destructive and costly wildfire on record.