Three firefighters were killed and two injured while fighting wildfires along the Colorado-Utah border, the U.S. Wildland Fire Service said Sunday, as extreme fire conditions continue to fuel the rapid spread of fires in the American West.The agency said firefighters were part of an interagency response to the Knowles and Gore fires on Saturday. It did not immediately release further details about the victim or the circumstances surrounding the incident.“The U.S. Wildland Fire Service and the USDA Forest Service stand united in our deep sorrow and unwavering support for the loved ones left behind. Their bravery, dedication and sacrifice will never be forgotten,” the agency said in a statement posted on Facebook.Wildfire activity in several western states has intensified following days of hot, dry and windy weather that has taken its toll. Officials said dozens of new fires broke out in Utah, Arizona and neighboring states, while existing fires continued to grow amid what forecasters described as severe fire weather conditions.The largest active fire is the Cottonwood Fire in southwestern Utah, which spread to more than 144 square miles (373 square kilometers) on Saturday as flames swept through canyons and mountains, destroying parts of the ski resort and several summer cabins.Beaver County authorities have begun assessing the damage but have not yet released an official estimate. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox called the situation serious but praised firefighters for what he called “several miraculous stops and rescues.”Fire officials said steep cliffs and rugged terrain complicated firefighting efforts.“It’s hard to get bulldozers and other heavy equipment into it. Alyssa Mason, a spokeswoman for the fire, said it was difficult to get the engine involved. “That doesn’t mean it’s impossible to fight the fire, but it just slows it down.”Hundreds of firefighters were deployed across Utah to battle new and growing blazes. Officials attribute the rapid spread of the virus to dangerously low humidity, high temperatures and strong winds.Utah’s record low snowpack and warmest winter on record have heightened the wildfire threat. Much of the western United States is experiencing similar conditions, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.Nearly 3 million acres (1.2 million hectares) have burned nationwide since the start of the year, exceeding the 10-year average. Firefighters are currently responding to dozens of active incidents across the country, including more than 30 large, out-of-control wildfires.Earlier this week, Governor Cox declared a state of emergency and authorized a statewide ban on fireworks ahead of the Fourth of July holiday, citing one of the worst wildfire seasons in Utah’s recent history.State Forester Jamie Barnes said a sharp increase in wildfires over the past week and unprecedented fire behavior has stretched Utah’s firefighting resources.Colorado Governor Jared Polis also declared a state of emergency on Saturday, authorizing the deployment of the National Guard to support firefighting operations.The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings for much of the West, including California, Arizona and New Mexico, warning of conditions conducive to the rapid spread of wildfires.In northern Arizona, wildfires continue to burn south of Grand Canyon National Park, while another fire near Kendrick Mountain prompted evacuation orders. Utilities in Arizona and Utah are also conducting precautionary power outages in multiple areas to reduce the risk of new fires in electrical infrastructure.
