Firefighter Nathan Matthews - United States Forest Service

Firefighter Nathan Matthews - United States Forest Service

On June 27, 2026, multiple firefighters with the United States Forest Service were killed in the line of duty while responding to the Knowles Fire in western Colorado, and other firefighters were injured.  The firefighters were assigned to the Rifle Helitack crew and were engaged in initial attack operations on the Knowles Fire when the incident occurred.

The firefighters who were killed and injured during this wildfire served on a specialized Helitack crew, an elite team trained to respond rapidly to emerging wildfires in remote and often inaccessible areas. Their work required exceptional skill, physical endurance, and the courage to enter some of the most dangerous environments imaginable. Every mission carried uncertainty, yet they accepted those risks because they believed in protecting lives, preserving communities, and safeguarding the nation’s natural resources.
One of the injured firefighters was Wildland Firefighter Nathan Matthews who was 43-years-old and was from Lincoln, Nebraska.  Firefighter Matthews unfortunately succumbed to his injuries later on July 24, 2026.  

Firefighter Nathan Matthews and four other firefighters with the Rifle Helitack Team were dropped into a fire in western Mesa County on June 27, a day when winds were whipping 30 to 50 mph and western Colorado was in virtual air fryer mode. Two new fires, the Knowles and Gore fires, had flared to the east of two large Utah fires that had merged into one and darkened Western Slope skies.  The five firefighters were dropped by helicopter into a remote area to fight the new fires. But shortly after noon, satellite imagery showed that another lightning-caused ignition had blown up not far from the firefighters. 

Just before 3 p.m., the crew requested that a helicopter pick them up. Within 10 minutes, a helicopter lifted off from the Grand Junction firefighting headquarters and headed out to rescue them. The trip took only five minutes, but by the time the helicopter reached the firefighters the smoke was so thick it was unable to lane.  

The firefighters deployed their shelters — basically fireproof pup tents that are standard last-resort gear for wildland firefighters. But the flames roared over the top of them.

United States Wildland Fire Service Director Brian Fennessy described Firefighter Nathan Matthews as a "bad ass".  He was known on the fire lines as a lover of fresh-brewed coffee and "bubbly water", a maker of creative fire camp mocktails, a trickster, and a reliable and kind worker who was an outdoorsman to his core.  

Firefighter Matthews had found wildland fires for 11 years.  He also fought hard for his life for nearly a month in a Denver burn unit.  

Our prayers and condolences go out to Firefighter Nathan Matthews' family both at home and as well with the United States Forest Service. 

firefighter nathan matthews united states forest service


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