Overview
- A Rifle Helitack crew was overtaken by a fast-moving burnover while conducting initial attack work on the Knowles Fire on Saturday, and three crew members were fatally injured while two others were wounded.
- The dead were identified Monday as Emily Barker, 38, of Clinton Township, Michigan; Nick Hutcherson, 27, of Glendale, Arizona; and Sydney Watson, 27, of Warrior, Alabama.
- Officials say the five firefighters deployed emergency shelters when flames overtook them, and two injured crewmates are receiving medical care at burn units.
- Multiple nearby blazes merged into the Snyder Fire, which federal managers now estimate at more than 28,000 acres with minimal containment and is under an interagency complex incident command.
- A serious accident investigation team has been mobilized to review the incident, and unions, advocates and leaders are raising concerns about staffing, fatigue and safety as an intense western fire season continues.