By admin 
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A Glendale firefighter who was killed while working a wildfire in Colorado will be honored at a public viewing Friday and a celebration of life on Saturday.
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Nick Hutcherson and two others were killed when they were overcome by flames while working fast-moving fires in Colorado.
A public viewing will be held Friday at the Hansen Desert Hills Mortuary and Cemetery on Bell Road in Scottsdale from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.
A celebration of life will follow Saturday at Dream City Church on Cave Creek Road in Phoenix at 2 p.m. A reception at JW Marriott Desert Ridge will follow at 5 p.m.
Coconino County and the rest of Arizona will honor Hutcherson by lowering flags to half-staff on Saturday, July 11.
Remembering Nick Hutcherson
Hutcherson, 27, was from Glendale and was assigned to the Kaibab National Forest in northern Arizona. He was brought back to Arizona on Thursday, July 2, in a dignified transfer after he died in the line of duty.
The Kaibab National Forest said it is heartbroken over Hutcherson’s death, saying he exemplified the agency’s commitment to public service and the courage wildland firefighters bring to the job.
Hutcherson served in the U.S. Navy and had plans to become a doctor of physical therapy. He was also an active member of the Northern Arizona Deaf and American Sign Language community and trained in Muay Thai at Southside Combat Academy in Flagstaff.
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The academy described Hutcherson as a warrior and said it is forever grateful to have known him.
“We lost a good one,” read a social media post. “If you met Nick, you loved Nick. He was such a gentle and genuine soul. We are still in disbelief.”
A verified GoFundMe has been set up to help Hutcherson’s family.
What happened
Hutcherson, Emily Barker and Sydney Watson were killed June 27 when they were overcome by flames from fast-moving fires in Colorado. Two other firefighters sustained burn injuries.
Officials said the firefighters deployed emergency protective shelters, which are considered a last resort when crews have no other way out.
The three were assigned to a Helitack crew, which can be deployed by helicopter to remote areas to attack new fires before they grow out of control.
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