A newly released preliminary report offers the clearest picture yet of the deadly Colorado wildfire that killed four firefighters, including Arizona firefighter Nicholas Hutcherson, and what happened in their final moments.
A July 30 report from the U.S. Wildland Fire Service and U.S. Forest Service also outlines attempted rescue efforts before the crew was overwhelmed by the fast-moving fire.
The firefighters were assigned to the Rifle Interagency Helitack Crew assigned to attack the Gore and Knowles Fires, southwest of Loma, Colorado. Those fires eventually merged with two others to become the Snyder Fire, which had burned more than 30,000 acres as of Aug. 4, according to federal wildfire tracker InciWeb.
Just after 12:30 p.m. June 27, the crew
was suddenly surrounded by flames as a new ignition caused by lightning was detected northeast of the fire and began to grow, the report said.
The crew discussed being evacuated by helicopter just before 3 p.m. as high winds and the dry climate began to fuel the fire, according to the report.
The helicopter took off a few minutes later but was unable to land due to smoke obscuring the view of the site, the report said.
During this time, the crew had deployed fire shelters, which are portable, last resort safety devices made to shield firefighters from heat during burnovers, according to the report.
Firefighters Emily Barker, 38, of Clinton Township, Michigan, and Sydney Watson, 26, of Warrior, Alabama, died during the burnover along with Hutcherson, the report said.
Two other firefighters were evacuated. On July 24, firefighter Nathan Matthews, 43, of Lincoln, Nebraska, died due to his injuries, the report said. The other unnamed firefighter was still recovering, according to the report.
Further details will be shared once the full report is complete, investigators said.
"Our focus remains on supporting the families, survivors, and the wildland fire community. The dedication of these firefighters is remembered and honored," the report said.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Rescue efforts revealed in wildfire that killed Arizona firefighter
