Story perspectives

Firefighter Killed in Colorado-Utah Burnover as Fires Merge

7/26/2026

Summary

Matthews Killed

Nathan Matthews, 43, of Lincoln, Nebraska, died on July 24 from burn injuries sustained while battling the Knowles Fire in western Colorado.
He was a Rifle Helitack crew member and one of five firefighters overtaken in a June 27 burnover.
Emily Barker, Nick Hutcherson, and Sydney Watson were killed at the scene.
The Knowles Fire merged with the Snyder Fire, burning about 30,202 acres along the Colorado-Utah border, prompting a serious accident investigation.

Summary

Matthews Funeral Pending

The U.S. Department of the Interior announced that Nathan Matthews’s funeral details will be released later.
The agency said memorial service information for Matthews will be provided later.
A Department of the Interior-convened accident investigation team is reviewing the burnover circumstances, but no findings are released yet.
Officials expect to issue funeral and memorial details within the next few weeks.

Summary

Matthews Fatal Fire

The burnover that killed three firefighters and later claimed Nathan Matthews is the deadliest U.S. wildland firefighting incident since the Yarnell Hill Fire on June 30, 2013.
Officials linked the Snyder Fire’s spread to months of dry weather, record-low snow, hot spells and erratic winds across the western United States.
The fire burned about 47 square miles, larger than Lakewood, Colorado.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis ordered state flags at half-staff for Matthews’ memorial ceremony.

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Matthews Killed

Nathan Matthews, 43, of Lincoln, Nebraska, died on July 24 from burn injuries sustained while battling the Knowles Fire in western Colorado.
He was a Rifle Helitack crew member and one of five firefighters overtaken in a June 27 burnover.
Emily Barker, Nick Hutcherson, and Sydney Watson were killed at the scene.
The Knowles Fire merged with the Snyder Fire, burning about 30,202 acres along the Colorado-Utah border, prompting a serious accident investigation.

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