Arizona firefighter killed in wildfire remembered as brainy, ‘goofy’

• Fallen firefighter Nick Hutcherson was remembered as courageous, intelligent, and lighthearted during a memorial service in Phoenix.
• Hutcherson, 27, and two other firefighters died on June 27 while battling what became the Snyder Fire in Colorado.
• Friends and family recalled his wisdom, unique laugh, and his favorite phrase, “easy day.”

A Snoopy sticker on a fellow firefighter’s helmet became part of the last photo fallen firefighter Nick Hutcherson texted to his father, capturing one of their final shared moments.

“I smiled when I saw the picture and texted him back, ‘Thank you and be safe out there.’ And he replied, ‘Will do.’ That evening, I did get a call, but it wasn’t from Nick,” said Ron Hutcherson through tears during his son’s memorial service on the afternoon of July 11 at Dream City Church in north Phoenix.

The brief exchange between father and son happened June 27, when the 27-year-old Nick Hutcherson and two fellow firefighters died as they took on what became the sprawling Snyder Fire in western Colorado.

The “Peanuts” character anecdote offered a glimpse into the man by those who eulogized Hutcherson, remembering him as courageous and intelligent, yet never one to lose his lighthearted spirit.

“Nick could pull all of these facts and quotes out like they were common knowledge. He was incredibly smart, but he didn’t let that get in the way of being goofy and funny. He was so unapologetically himself that you couldn’t help but to like him and get drawn into whatever subject he was talking about,” said Cantene Coker, his friend and crew member.

Wise words, laughter marked memories

Hutcherson served as a firefighter on the Kaibab National Forest after joining the profession in July 2021, according to those who spoke at the service. He was also pursuing a degree in physical therapy with the goal of one day becoming a doctor.

Before becoming a firefighter, Hutcherson served in the U.S. Navy. His father said he enlisted after the U.S. Marine Corps declined to accept him because of his high arches.

“A lot of people would have taken that as a sign to give up, but not you. Instead of continuing to wait, you made up your mind to go and walk through the door of the Navy. You weren’t looking for the easiest path. You were looking for a way to serve. And you did,” Ron Hutcherson said.

The grieving father recalled how he sat his son down to apologize for any shortcomings as a father.

“You explained how you understood there was no road map for being a parent, no blueprint, and that people make mistakes. You expressed you held no resentment towards me, not then and not ever,” Ron Hutcherson said. “For a moment it felt like our worlds had been reversed. I was the child and you were the parent, teaching me one of the most important lessons in life. And I want to thank you for that.”

Brandon Smith remembered Nick Hutcherson before he achieved that level of maturity.

“He was super awkward in his younger years, but then he developed into a man who was incredible,” said Smith as he and Hallie Costa walked to the church.

The two, both 28, had known Hutcherson since they all attended Desert Sage Elementary School in Glendale, where the future firefighter and Flagstaff resident grew up.

“He had a super cute laugh,” Smith added as Costa gave a light chuckle.

Prior ceremonies celebrated life

Many who knew him remembered the amateur Muay Thai practitioner as “a warrior in all respects of the word.”

Those who spoke at a July 5 memorial service in Grand Junction, Colorado, also remembered Hutcherson’s generosity. The service also honored the firefighters who died alongside Hutcherson: Emily Barker, 38, of Michigan; and Sydney Watson, 26, of Alabama.

Hutcherson would try and teach fellow crew members American Sign Language, said Travis Nichols, a unit aviation officer in the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit.

Brian Fennessy, director and fire chief of the United States Wildland Fire Service, said one of Hutcherson’s most valued qualities was his “uncommon ability to face hard things with optimism, humility and a smile.”

His favorite phrase, “easy day,” was emblematic of this, Fennessy said. 

Hutcherson’s remains were brought July 2 to Arizona.

“This is the community thanking him for what he did, the sacrifice that he made. The fire service is one big family,” said Phoenix Fire Capt. Rob McDade as Hutcherson’s casket arrived at Deer Valley Airport.

Flags were flown at half-staff on July 11 in accordance with an order from Gov. Katie Hobbs, who attended the memorial service at Dream City Church.

A GoFundMe to benefit Hutcherson’s family had amassed a little more than $84,000 of a $100,000 goal as of July 11.

The Knowles Fire, which claimed the three firefighters’ lives and reportedly injured two others, merged with three fires into the Snyder Fire. Spanning 30,202 acres, the Snyder Fire was 98% contained as of July 8, according to inciweb.gov.

Republic reporters Stacey Barchenger and Christian Cervantes contributed to this article.

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