Three firefighters were killed and two others injured while battling wildfires along the Colorado-Utah border, the US Wildland Fire Service said on Sunday, as extreme fire conditions continued to fuel rapidly spreading blazes across the western United States.The firefighters were part of an interagency response to the Knowles and Gore fires on Saturday, the agency said. It did not immediately release further details about the victims or the circumstances surrounding the incident.”The U.S. Wildland Fire Service stands united with the USDA Forest Service in grief and in our unwavering support for the loved ones left behind. Their bravery, dedication, and sacrifice will never be forgotten,” the agency said in a statement posted on Facebook.The deaths came as wildfire activity intensified across several western states following consecutive days of hot, dry and windy weather. Officials said dozens of new fires had erupted across Utah, Arizona and neighbouring states, while existing fires continued to expand under what forecasters described as critical fire weather conditions.The largest active blaze, the Cottonwood Fire in southwest Utah, grew to more than 144 square miles (373 square kilometres) on Saturday as flames swept through canyons and mountainous terrain, destroying parts of a ski resort and several summer cabins. Authorities in Beaver County have begun assessing the damage, though no official estimate has been released. Utah Governor Spencer Cox described the situation as bleak but praised firefighters for achieving what he called “several miraculous stops and saves.”Fire officials said steep cliffs and rugged terrain have complicated firefighting efforts.”It’s hard to get dozers and other heavy equipment into that. It’s hard to get engines into that,” said Alyssa Mason, a spokesperson assigned to the fire. “It doesn’t make it impossible to firefight, but it does just kind of slow things down.”Hundreds of firefighters have been deployed across Utah as crews battle both newly ignited and expanding fires. Officials attributed the rapid spread to dangerously low humidity, high temperatures and strong winds.The wildfire threat has been exacerbated by Utah’s record-low snowpack and its warmest winter on record. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, much of the western United States is experiencing similar conditions.Nationwide, nearly three million acres (1.2 million hectares) have burned since the start of the year, exceeding the 10-year average. Fire crews are currently responding to dozens of active incidents across the country, including more than 30 large uncontrolled wildfires.Earlier this week, governor Cox declared a state of emergency and authorised a statewide fireworks ban ahead of the July Fourth holiday, citing one of Utah’s most severe wildfire seasons in recent history.State Forester Jamie Barnes said wildfire starts had increased sharply over the past week and were displaying unprecedented fire behaviour, stretching Utah’s firefighting resources.Colorado governor Jared Polis also declared an emergency on Saturday, authorising the deployment of the National Guard to support firefighting operations.The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings across large parts of the West, including California, Arizona and New Mexico, warning of conditions favourable for rapid wildfire growth.In northern Arizona, a wildfire south of Grand Canyon National Park continued to burn, while another blaze near Kendrick Mountain prompted evacuation orders. Utility companies in Arizona and Utah also carried out precautionary power shut-offs in several areas to reduce the risk of new fires sparked by electrical infrastructure.
