Three firefighters have been killed and two injured while responding to the Snyder wildfire burning along the Utah-Colorado border, the US Wildland Fire Service said.
Both injured firefighters have been transported to the hospital to receive medical treatment.
“Our immediate focus is on supporting their families, friends, and fellow crewmates during this incredibly difficult time,” the service said.
Colorado’s Governor Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency response to the fire on Saturday, authorizing the Colorado National Guard to support response efforts.
The fire has burned an estimated 28,000 acres, according to a statement from the Colorado governor’s office, and is at 0% containment.
The fire began Saturday morning as the Snyder Mesa Fire in eastern Utah’s Grand County, then spread into Colorado, where it merged with the smaller Jones and Knowles fires in Mesa County to form the Snyder Fire.
Evacuation warnings have been issued for several smaller communities in Mesa County, Colorado.
