Three firefighters died and two others were injured while responding to the Knowles and Gore wildfires along the Colorado-Utah border on Saturday, according to The Guardian.
The newly formed US Wildland Fire Service, established in January to coordinate suppression efforts across public lands, announced the casualties following a joint emergency response operation.
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"The US Wildland Fire Service stands united with the USDA Forest Service in grief and in our unwavering support for the loved ones left behind," the agency said in a statement on Facebook.
The agency added a final tribute to the fallen personnel within the same social media release. "Their bravery, dedication, and sacrifice will never be forgotten," the statement read.
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Wildfire Activity Surges Across Western US
Wildfire activity has surged across the western United States due to consecutive days of hot, dry, and windy weather conditions.
In central Utah, the Cottonwood fire in the Fishlake National Forest expanded overnight from 70,000 acres to over 92,000 acres by Saturday morning, remaining at 0% containment.
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Utah Governor Spencer Cox previously declared a state of emergency and enacted a statewide fireworks ban, while Colorado Governor Jared Polis deployed the National Guard on Saturday to assist local teams.
