Three firefighters were killed and two others injured while battling wildfires near the Colorado-Utah border, the US Wildland Fire Service said Sunday.
The firefighters were part of a joint emergency response to the Knowles and Gore fires on Saturday.
In a statement, the Wildland Fire Service expressed condolences to the victims’ families and praised the firefighters for their courage and sacrifice.
Wildfires have been spreading rapidly across the western United States after several days of hot, dry and windy weather, with major fires burning in Utah, Arizona and other states.
The largest blaze, the Cottonwood Fire in southwest Utah, grew to more than 144 square miles (373 square kilometres) on Saturday. The fire swept through canyons and mountain slopes, damaging part of a ski resort and several summer cabins.
Officials in Beaver County were assessing the damage, but no estimate was immediately available.
Firefighters said steep cliffs and rugged terrain have made it difficult to bring in heavy equipment, slowing efforts to contain the flames.
Hundreds of firefighters have been deployed across Utah as authorities battle both new and existing fires. Weather experts warned that low humidity, high temperatures and strong winds continue to create dangerous wildfire conditions.
Utah is facing one of its worst wildfire seasons in recent years due to record-low snowfall, an unusually warm winter and severe drought.
Governor Spencer Cox earlier declared a state of emergency and imposed a statewide fireworks ban ahead of the July 4 holiday to reduce the risk of new fires.
State Forester Jamie Barnes said the number of new wildfires has increased sharply over the past week, stretching firefighting resources.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis also declared a state of emergency on Saturday and authorized the National Guard to assist in firefighting efforts.
Across the United States, nearly 3 million acres (1.2 million hectares) have burned so far this year, exceeding the 10-year average.
Authorities in Arizona also issued evacuation orders near Kendrick Mountain as another wildfire spread, while power was cut in parts of northern Arizona and Utah to reduce the risk of additional fires.
