A fourth firefighter, Nathan Matthews, 43, has died from burns sustained during a wildfire near the Colorado-Utah border last month, officials announced on Saturday, July 25, 2026. Matthews, from Lincoln, Nebraska, passed away on Friday, according to a release from the US Interior Department.

The fatal incident occurred on June 27, when Matthews and several colleagues, part of a helitack crew deployed in Mesa County, Colorado, were overtaken by a rapidly spreading wildfire in a burnover—a situation where fire closes off all escape routes. The firefighters deployed tent-like emergency shelters in an attempt to shield themselves from the flames.

Three other firefighters—Emily Barker, 38; Nick Hutcherson, 27; and Sydney Watson, 26—died at the scene. The condition of another injured firefighter has not been updated.

“This is another heartbreaking loss for our wildland fire family,” said Brian Fennessy, chief of the US wildland fire service.

Watson, Hutcherson, and Barker were honored at a memorial service earlier in July. Memorial arrangements for Matthews have not yet been announced.

Meanwhile, firefighters are preparing for potentially worsening fires in Oregon, particularly a blaze near Bend that poses a threat due to its proximity to populated areas.

Sources