safety
They were the ‘unsung heroes’ of firefighting. Their deaths mark a grim milestone for the new wildland fire service
By CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7
· June 29, 2026
· 5 min read
By Chelsea Bailey, TuAnh Dam, Alex Stambaugh, Julianna Bragg, CNN
(CNN) — Everything changed in a matter of minutes.
The wildland firefighters assigned to the Rifle County, Colorado, Helitack crew were among the first to arrive at the Knowles Fire Saturday, as the fast-moving blaze scorched t...
Key takeaway Three firefighters – Emily Barker, 38; Nick Hutcherson, 27; and Sydney Watson, 27 – died during the burnover, according to the US Department of Interior.
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Category: safety ·
Published: June 29, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 5 min
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What is this story about? By Chelsea Bailey, TuAnh Dam, Alex Stambaugh, Julianna Bragg, CNN
(CNN) — Everything changed in a matter of minutes.
The wildland firefighters assigned to the Rifle County, Colorado, Helitack crew were among the first to arrive at the Knowles Fire Saturday, as the fast-moving blaze scorched t...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 29, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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