Three firefighters who died fighting flames on the Colorado-Utah border are remembered as brave heroes who were pioneers in their industries.

Wildfires have spread across the West fueled by months of dry weather and a record lack of snow, forcing residents from their homes as crews work to extinguish the flames.

Emily Barker, Nick Hutcherson and Sydney Watson died on Saturday, June 27, and two others suffered burns when they were overcome by flames from fast-moving fires in Mesa County. They deployed emergency protective shelters, which firefighters consider a “last resort” when there is no other way out.

They were assigned to a Helitack crew that can be dropped by helicopter into remote areas and whose mission is to prevent new fires from becoming out of control fires.

Their deaths came nearly 13 years to the day an elite team of 19 wildland firefighters died when they became trapped in a steep canyon in Yarnell, Arizona.

A memorial service for the three firefighters will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Las Colonias Park Amphitheater in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Barker, 38, had a lot of spirit and the people around her always strove to be better people with her presence, said Sarah Brubeck Schnurbusch, a friend and former roommate.

Barker was from Clinton, Michigan, and enjoyed hiking, skiing, biking and playing hockey. He loved fighting fires.

“I’ve never seen someone so excited to go to work,” Brubeck Schnurbusch said. She added that her friend was an expert who helped pave the way for many women in the industry.

He said he is hopeful that Barker’s death will open people’s eyes to the hard work firefighters do day in and day out.

“I just hope Emily knows the impact she left on everyone else and how many people really love her,” he said.

Hutcherson, 27, served in the U.S. Navy and had plans to become a physical therapist, according to the Kaibab National Forest in northern Arizona, where he was stationed. He was also an active member of the Northern Arizona Deaf and American Sign Language community and was a dedicated Muay Thai practitioner who trained at Southside Combat Academy in Flagstaff.

Hutcherson was from Glendale, Arizona.

The Kaibab National Forest said it is heartbroken by his death. Hutcherson exemplified the agency’s commitment to serving the public and the courage wildland firefighters bring to their work, he said.

The combat academy described Hutcherson as a warrior and said she will be forever grateful to have known him and fought alongside him.

“We lost a good one,” reads a social media post. “If you knew Nick, you loved him. He was such a gentle, genuine soul. We’re still in disbelief.”

Watson, 27, was from Warrior, Alabama, and graduated from Tennessee Southern University, according to the university.

Watson, a former pitcher on the softball team and “a calm and collected leader,” was assigned to the U.S. Forest Fire Service Rifle Helitack team, the university said in a statement.

In 2023, Watson participated in a program in North Carolina hosted by the Women-in-Fire Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges, the collaborative group wrote in a statement.

In her application for the program, she said she wanted to see more women on the front lines and work with and learn from other women in the firefighting industry, according to the release.

“It’s hard for people outside of the firefighting world to understand why we do what we do. We do it because we love it. Sydney loved it,” the group wrote.