GRAND JUNCTION, CO — The United States Department of the Interior has identified three firefighters who were killed in a wildfire near the Colorado-Utah border over the weekend, including one firefighter from Arizona.
The firefighters were killed on Saturday while battling the Knowles Fire as part of the Rifle Helitack crew, officials say.
One of the firefighters was identified as 27-year-old Nick Hutcherson, of Glendale, who was assigned to the U.S. Forest Service Kaibab National Forest.
VIDEO: Casket carrying body of Nick Hutcherson arrives at Deer Valley Airport
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs said on social media, "he's a hero who embodied the courage and selflessness of our wildland fire service."
My heart breaks for the family and crewmates of Nick Hutcherson, an Arizonan who died responding to the Knowles Fire in Colorado. He's a hero who embodied the courage and selflessness of our wildland fire service. We owe him a debt of gratitude we can never repay. Arizona stands…
— Governor Katie Hobbs (@GovernorHobbs) June 29, 2026
Firefighters Emily Barker, 38, of Michigan, and Sydney Watson, 26, of Alabama, also lost their lives. Two other firefighters were injured.
- Emily Barker, 38, of Clinton Township, Michigan, assigned to the U.S. Forest Service Rifle Helitack.
- Nick Hutcherson, 27 of Glendale, Arizona, assigned to the U.S. Forest Service Kaibab National Forest.
- Sydney Watson,
A procession was held for the fallen firefighters on Sunday in the Grand Junction, Colorado, area.
On Thursday, a procession is set to take place in the Valley for Hutcherson.
Watch live video of the procession around 1 p.m. in the video player below:
“A serious accident investigation team has been mobilized and is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident,” officials said Monday.
Officials say the Snyder and Jones fires overtook the Knowles and Gore fires, all now being managed and reported as the Snyder Fire, estimated at over 30,000 acres, as of July 2.
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