By admin 
GRAND JUNCTION, CO (AZFamily) — Federal officials have identified the three firefighters killed while battling a massive wildfire in Colorado, including one from Arizona.
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The U.S. Department of the Interior says the three firefighters were assigned to the Rifle Helitack crew and were battling the Knowles Fire in western Colorado on Saturday. The firefighters have been identified as:
- Emily Barker, 38, of Clinton Township, Michigan
- Nick Hutcherson, 27 of Glendale, Arizona
- Sydney Watson, 26, of Warrior, Alabama
Hutcherson was assigned to the U.S. Forest Service Kaibab National Forest. Two other firefighters were injured, but are receiving medical care.
Officials say the Snyder Fire merged with the Jones fire and overtook the Knowles and Gore fires. The fire has burned over 28,000 acres along the Colorado-Utah border.
“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.”
The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Wildland Fire Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service are providing support to the fallen firefighters’ families.
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A serious accident team is investigating what led up to the firefighters’ deaths.
Hutcherson’s death comes just days before the 13th anniversary of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, who were killed while battling the Yarnell Hill Fire in 2013.
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