world
Three Firefighters Killed, Two Injured as Lightning Sparks Eight Fires Near Utah-Colorado Border
The Snyder Mesa Fire has burned more than 28,000 acres at zero percent containment after crossing from Utah. Colorado Governor Jared Polis declared a state disaster emergency on June 27 as pre-evacuation orders expanded and air quality alerts took effect across western counties.
NewsweekAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Three federal firefighters were killed and two others injured in a burnover incident while fighting wildfires near the Utah-Colorado border, according to the U.S. Wildland Fire Service. The Snyder Mesa Fire, formed by the merger of the Jones, Knowles, and Snyder Mesa fires, has burned more than 28,000 acres after crossing from Utah into Colorado and remains at zero percent containment.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued a state disaster emergency declaration on Saturday, June 27. The fires are concentrated near the Utah border and have spread into Mesa County near Fruita and Glade Park, with additional fires reported north of Ouray, northeast of Grand Junction, and in the San Juan National Forest.
The Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit is responding to approximately eight confirmed wildfires after lightning in the past 24 hours, with engines, crews, and aircraft engaged on all incidents.
The injured firefighters are being treated for burn injuries, while the identities of the three deceased have not been released. The Mesa County Sheriff's Office issued pre-evacuation orders on June 27 for parts of Mesa County near Glade Park. Authorities first directed properties along BS Road west of 11 5/10 Road to the Utah border to prepare to leave, then expanded the zone by early evening to 16 1/2 Road.
A 2/10 Road was closed at DS Road and at BS Road near the Bureau of Land Management boundary, with Mesa County Road and Bridge assisting enforcement. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued air quality health advisories across Mesa, Garfield, Routt, Eagle, Montrose, Delta, Gunnison, and Pitkin counties, as well as Aspen, Vail, Grand Junction, and Telluride.
Moderate to heavy smoke could linger until at least Sunday morning, June 28, when the alert is set to expire.
The National Weather Service is not forecasting rain over the next few days. Firefighters have been battling high winds, low humidity, and dry fuels.
