Three firefighters died Saturday while responding to the Snyder Fire, a wildfire burning along the Utah-Colorado border. Two additional firefighters are receiving treatment for burn injuries, the U.S. Wildland Fire Service announced. The service stated that its primary focus is on supporting the families and colleagues of the fallen.
The Snyder Fire began Saturday morning as the Snyder Mesa Fire in Grand County, Utah, before crossing into Colorado's Mesa County. There, it merged with the smaller Jones and Knowles Fires to form the current Snyder Fire. Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued a disaster emergency declaration in response to the blaze.
The wildfire has consumed an estimated 28,000 acres and is currently 0% contained. Evacuation warnings have been issued for smaller communities in Mesa County, Colorado.
The Snyder Fire is one of several large wildfires active in the Four Corners region. In Utah, the Cottonwood Fire has burned approximately 92,254 acres with no containment. The Iron Fire has covered about 41,467 acres and is 38% contained. The Cherry Fire, also in Utah, has burned about 30,766 acres and is 0% contained.