Published June 29, 2026 03:33 pm
Three firefighters who died fighting a blaze on the Colorado-Utah border on June 27 used a technique to keep them alive as flames grew rapidly.
But experts say that life-saving practice – which involves setting up a shelter made of protective materials – is a “last resort” that doesn’t always work.
Bill Cage, a retired firefighter and former chief of the National Park Service’s Fire and Aviation Division, says, “A shelter is a device of last resort to protect someone from the gases and flames released during a fire.” “If not more often, they undergo training on fire shelter use annually. Realistically, no firefighter wants to be in a situation that requires the use of a shelter.”
Emily Barker, 38, of Michigan, Nick Hutcherson, 27, of Arizona, and Sydney Watson, 27, of Alabama died in the fire after deploying emergency safety shelters, officials said. statement. Two other firefighters were also injured in the fire.
Their deaths reflect 2013 Yarnell fire incident That’s when 19 firefighters died in Arizona after deploying their shelters — and it serves as a reminder that one firefighter’s last resort may not be enough.
“Their deaths are absolutely devastating,” says Riva Duncan, president of Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, a nonprofit advocacy group.
What is a fire shelter and how does one use it?
The three firefighters were responding to the Knowles Fire in western Colorado, which later merged into the Snyder Fire, the Interior Department said in a statement. Now estimated at 28,000 acres, the Snyder fire was one of eight looming incidents in the area following a red flag warning.
When deploying a fire shelter, firefighters issue a small tent made of technical fabrics that can reflect high heat in the event of a fire, meaning they cannot reach a safe area and are surrounded by fire. The shape of the shelter allows a person to lie flat, protecting their lower body and airways as they breathe cool, clean air close to the ground. Deploying takes about 15 to 20 seconds, and firefighters must put the shelter down before being exposed to the flame.
But officials said the exact circumstances under which firefighters deployed their shelter were still being investigated.
Duncan told Outside Firefighters were engaged in extinguishing the initial attack fire, which was the first response of units dispatched to an incident. He said the exact details of how he died in the fire were not yet known.
“This was a very dynamic situation and it will take time to gather information and facts to know exactly what happened,” Duncan said.
Fire shelters are known to save lives. However, in extreme circumstances, they can prove fatal.
“They crawl into the shelter and hold on to it with their hands and feet to try to escape the fire. Although shelters have saved the lives of many firefighters, not every situation can be avoided,” Duncan said.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, most firefighters who die in a fire die from heat that damages their airways, usually not from external irritation – just one breath of hot gases can damage the lungs and suffocate a person.
Wildland Firefighters Serve the Front Lines
Wildland firefighting is different from structural. Crews in wildland areas do not wear any type of airway protection, Duncan said, and they often work extremely close to wildfires.
“They carry chainsaws and hand tools to dig out dirt and cut brush to build fire lines. They work 14- to 16-hour shifts, but can exceed 24-hour shifts during the initial attack,” Duncan said. “Their fire engines are small so they can navigate narrow mountain roads. They cover long distances to fires or can go to remote areas by helicopter and parachute.”
And with increasing environmental pressures causing wildfires to spread to more areas, experts like Kaage and Duncan agree that wildland firefighters are needed more than ever.
“Wildland firefighters are the frontline resources working close to the edge of a fire to prevent it from spreading,” Caage said. Outside. “The work is hard, it requires long hours, physically fit individuals, and a lot of support from other people who don’t work with them.”
An unusually active and early fire season
Nationally, fire managers moved the country preparation level four on June 29, with five being the most. These ratings help officers guide and mobilize fire resources. As preparedness levels increase, so does the need for suppression resources such as incident management teams and wildland firefighters.
The number of fires and acres burned so far this year are above the ten-year average, but it is difficult to predict how the year will turn out, according to Caize. Below normal snowfall followed by a very warm spring is leading to a drier than normal summer.
“This could mean the fuel was exposed to the elements (not under the snowpack) for longer than normal, and reduced soil moisture could stress vegetation,” Kaage said.
Duncan said persistent drought conditions, coupled with low snowfall, are making this year’s western fire season challenging.
“This is the beginning of the summer for there to be this much activity in places like Utah,” Duncan said. “The three deaths are absolutely devastating for wildfires,” he said.
“We urge the public to please be mindful of fire restrictions and remember that we have real people with families on the firelines who are already doing risky work – the last thing we need is a human-caused wildfire (all human-caused wildfires are preventable). Our firefighters are really doing their best in difficult and dangerous conditions,” Duncan said.
Authorities say they are continuing to investigate the incident and will release more details as they become available.
“We mourn the loss of these three firefighters who responded to the call to protect others and made the supreme sacrifice in service of their fellow citizens,” Wildland Fire Service Chief Brian Fennessy said in a statement. statement. “Our thoughts are with their families, loved ones, friends and crew mates as they suffer an unimaginable loss. These firefighters epitomize the courage, professionalism and selflessness that defines the wildland fire service.”
