A woman from Warrior was one of three firefighters killed Saturday while fighting fires along the Colorado-Utah border.
Sydney Watson, 26, was a 2016 graduate of Corner High School. Emily Barker, of Clinton Township, Mich., and Nick Hutcherson, 27, of Glendale, Ariz., were also killed.
The three were part of a specialized crew seeking shelter in tents when the flames spread.
“We mourn the loss of three firefighters who answered the call to protect others and made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their fellow citizens,” said U.S. Wildland Fire Service chief Brian Fennessy. “Our thoughts are with their families, loved ones, friends and crewmates as they face an unimaginable loss. These firefighters embodied the courage, professionalism and selflessness that define the wildland fire service. Please join me and my family in keeping our thoughts and prayers with the families of the fallen and our injured firefighters and their families.”
Watson worked for the Wildland Fire Service, which was created within the Department of the Interior earlier this year to coordinate firefighting on public lands.
The Service said the tents were a “last resort” for firefighters with no way out. The incident is under investigation.
The governors of both Colorado and Utah have declared a state of emergency in response to extreme dry weather and fire conditions.
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