A Macomb County woman was among three firefighters who died Saturday while responding to a wildfire in western Colorado.
Emily Barker, 38, of Clinton Township was identified Monday among the fatalities stemming from the Knowles Fire, which ignited Thursday and rapidly spread across rugged terrain, destroying dozens of structures and prompting evacuations.
Barker was part of the U.S. Forest Service’s Rifle Helitack crew, a specialized team of wildland firefighters trained to use helicopters to rapidly reach, attack and help suppress fires in remote or difficult-to-access areas.
She was a graduate of Northern Michigan University who previously worked as a captain for the Bureau of Land Management office in Dubois, Idaho, according to a 2020 social media post by the Grosse Pointe Academy, which identified Barker as an alumnus.
In a press release issued Monday, the U.S. Department of the Interior identified the other deceased firefighters as Nick Hutcherson, 27, of Glendale, Arizona, and Sydney Watson, 27, of Warrior, Alabama.
“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 in the release. “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.”
Officials said an accident investigation team would review circumstances around the deaths and information would be released as it becomes available.
The Knowles Fire, located along the Colorado-Utah border, has recently merged with several other nearby fires, the U.S. Forest Service said. As of Monday, it was about 28,000 acres in size.
The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Wildland Fire Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service are coordinating firefighting efforts and providing support to the late firefighters’ loved ones.
“Our heavy hearts are with the families during this unimaginable time,” said Forest Service Deputy Chief Sarah Fisher in the release. “We recognize the tremendous impact this loss has on them and are deeply grateful for the devotion their loved ones brought to our organizations.”
mreinhart@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Macomb County woman among 3 firefighters killed in Colorado blaze
Reporting by Max Reinhart, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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By Max Reinhart, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
