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Incident Information:
Attachment Size Knowles Fire Entrapment Fatalities SAIT Update 1.pdf (742.32 KB) 742.32 KB Knowles Fire Entrapment Fatalities Amended 72 Hour Report.pdf (717.8 KB) 717.8 KB Knowles Fire Entrapment Fatalities 72 Hour Report.pdf (426.05 KB) 426.05 KB Knowles Fire Entrapment Fatalities 24 Hour Report.pdf (274.48 KB) 274.48 KB DOI Statement of Fourth Knowles Fire Fatality.pdf (57.57 KB) 57.57 KB DOI Statement of Knowles Fire Fatalities.pdf (128.98 KB) 128.98 KB Knowles Fire Entrapment Fatalities Barker USFA Notification.pdf (149.78 KB) 149.78 KB Knowles Fire Entrapment Fatalities Hutcherson USFA Notification.pdf (150.32 KB) 150.32 KB Knowles Fire Entrapment Fatalities Watson USFA Notification.pdf (149.26 KB) 149.26 KB Knowles Fire Entrapment Fatalities Matthews USFA Notification.pdf (152.46 KB) 152.46 KB -
Location:
Colorado -
Date:
06/27/2026 -
Incident Type:
Entrapment -
Description:
Five firefighters from the interagency Rifle Helitack crew staffed by both USWFS and USFS employees were involved in a burnover event while providing an initial attack response to the Gore and Knowles fires. Firefighters from the crew deployed fire shelters. Two firefighters survived the entrapment and were transported to hospital with burn injuries.
Rifle Helitack crewmembers Emily Barker, Nicholas "Nick" Hutcherson, and Sydney Watson perished during the entrapment. Crewmember Nathan "Nate" Matthews passed away on July 24, 2026, from injuries he sustained during the entrapment.
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