Three firefighters killed and two injured while battling Utah-Colorado wildfires

Three firefighters were killed and two others were hurt while responding to wildfires along the Colorado - Utah border, the US Wildland Fire Service announced on Sunday. The agency, which was established in January to coordinate wildfire suppression and prevention efforts across public lands, said the firefighters were involved in a joint response to the Knowles and Gore fires on Saturday. “The US Wildland Fire Service stands united with the USDA Forest Service in grief and in our unwavering support for the loved ones left behind,” it said in a statement on Facebook. “Their bravery, dedication, and sacrifice will never be forgotten.” Wildfire activity has continued to increase across the western US after several days of hot, dry and windy weather fueled fires in Utah, Arizona and other parts of the region while additional blazes ignited. In Utah, hundreds of firefighters have been working to contain a wildfire that by Saturday had expanded another more than 20,000 acres (8,000 hectares). State officials said low humidity and strong winds contributed to the rapid growth of the fire. The Cottonwood fire began on Monday in Fishlake national forest in central Utah . According to the US Forest Service, it grew overnight from about 70,000 acres to more than 92,000 acres by Saturday morning. The National Interagency Fire Center at the time said the fire remained 0% contained and was the largest active wildfire in the US. The Cottonwood fire near Beaver, Utah, on 27 June. …