Funeral set for Alabama firefighter killed in Colorado wildfire (my favorite)

Funeral arrangements have been announced for an Alabama wildland firefighter who was killed while battling a wildfire in western Colorado.

Sydney Watson, 27, of Warrior, Alabama, died June 27 while assigned to the U.S. Wildland Fire Service’s Rifle Helitack crew. She was one of three firefighters killed during a burnover event while conducting initial attack operations on the Knowles Fire near the Colorado-Utah border.

Watson’s family will receive friends from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 7, at Highpoint Community Church, 185 Morris-Cobb Road in Empire. A celebration of life service will begin at 6 p.m.

Fire departments from across the region are expected to honor Watson with an apparatus detail before the service. Participating fire apparatus will stage at the church between 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. There will be no procession following the celebration of life, and all participating vehicles are asked to be in place before 4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, Watson’s family asks that memorial donations be made to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation or the National Park Foundation in her memory.

Watson was among three wildland firefighters killed while responding to the Knowles Fire on June 27. Federal officials said she and her crew were conducting initial attack operations when they were caught in a fatal burnover. Two other firefighters were injured and continue to recover.

The other firefighters who died were identified as Emily Barker, 38, of Clinton Township, Michigan, and Nick Hutcherson, 27, of Glendale, Arizona.

Following the incident, the Knowles Fire merged with several other fires to become the larger Snyder Fire along the Colorado-Utah border.

A serious accident investigation remains underway to determine what led to the deadly burnover.

U.S. Wildland Fire Service Chief Brian Fennessy previously said the firefighters “embodied the courage, professionalism and selflessness that define the wildland fire service” and made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting others.