Three federal firefighters were killed and two others were injured over the weekend while responding to wildfires burning near the Colorado-Utah state line.
The firefighters were part of an interagency response to the Knowles and Gore fires in western Colorado.
In response to the growing wildfire threat, Jared Polis declared a state of emergency on Saturday and authorized the deployment of the Colorado National Guard to assist with firefighting efforts.
Several large wildfires continue to burn across southwestern Colorado as firefighters work under hot, dry, and windy conditions.
Officials are reminding residents and visitors to stay informed on fire conditions, follow evacuation orders when issued, and use extreme caution to help prevent additional wildfires.
