{"success":true,"data":{"id":"24bb8661-76d7-4beb-b76f-3b1acc477322","title":"4th firefighter dies from burn injuries battling Colorado's Knowles wildfire","summary":"\"Watch CBS News\") 4th firefighter dies from burn injuries battling Colorado's Knowles wildfire Cara Tabachnick Cara Tabachnick is a news editor at CBSNews.com. Cara began her career on the crime beat at Newsday. She has written for Marie Claire, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal.","content":"[[Video 1](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nathan-matthews-dies-knowles-wildfire-colorado/)](https://www.cbsnews.com/live/ \"Watch CBS News\")\n\n# 4th firefighter dies from burn injuries battling Colorado's Knowles wildfire\n\nCara Tabachnick\n\n Cara Tabachnick is a news editor at CBSNews.com. Cara began her career on the crime beat at Newsday. She has written for Marie Claire, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. She reports on justice and human rights issues. Contact her at cara.tabachnick@cbsinteractive.com \n\nJuly 25, 2026 / 1:38 PM EDT / CBS News\n\nA fourth firefighter died from burn injuries battling Colorado's Knowles wildfire in the western part of the state at the end of June.\n\nNathan Matthews, 43, of Lincoln, Nebraska, died from injuries sustained while battling the blaze, the U.S. Department of the Interior [said](https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/fourth-firefighter-dies-following-knowles-fire-burnover-colorado)in a statement.\n\n\"This is another heartbreaking loss for our wildland fire family,\" said U.S. Wildland Fire Service Chief Brian Fennessy, referring to the three firefighters who [died](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/knowles-and-gore-fires-firefighters-killed-utah-colorado/) responding to the Knowles blaze. Fast-moving flames and gusty winds[created](https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/two-wildfires-utah-colorado-border-third-others-on-western-slope/) unpredictable conditions for the firefighters.\n\nFive firefighters were involved in a burnover — when a fire spreads rapidly and closes off escape routes — while engaged in initial attack operations on the Knowles Fire. The fire sparked near Knowles Canyon in Mesa County and was later overtaken by the Snyder Fire, which started in Utah and rapidly spread across the Colorado border.\n\nThe Snyder Fire is burning along the Colorado-Utah border. U.S. Wildland Fire Service \n\nThe Department of the Interior said the fire is known as the Snyder Fire and has burned over 28,000 acres along the Colorado-Utah border.\n\nEmily Barker, 38, Nick Hutcherson, 27, and Sydney Watson, 27, were assigned to the Rifle Helitack crew and engaged in initial attack operations, officials [said](https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/identities-released-three-firefighters-who-died-responding-knowles-fire-colorado). They [died](https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/firefighter-memorial-western-colorado-knowles-fire/) at the scene.\n\n\"We mourn the loss of Nate while continuing to grieve the deaths of Emily, Nick and Sydney. Our hearts are with their families, friends, crewmates and everyone impacted by this tragedy,\" Fennessy said.\n\nMatthews had been receiving medical care for his burns. The name of the fifth firefighter has not been released.\n\n\"We remain committed to supporting those affected and honoring the legacy of all four firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation,\" Fennessy said.","source_name":"CBS News","source_url":"https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nathan-matthews-dies-knowles-wildfire-colorado/","url":"https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nathan-matthews-dies-knowles-wildfire-colorado/","author":"Unknown Author","author_name":"Unknown Author","published_at":"2026-07-25T17:38:00.000Z","publication_date":"2026-07-25T17:38:00.000Z","image_url":"https://assets3.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2026/06/29/f97e3bac-a626-48a6-ab00-be52c9a96b55/thumbnail/620x349/57f2eb385dd99631abc385e588f64789/synder-fire-1-us-wildland-fire-service.jpg#","category":"world","topic":"world","tags":[],"political_bias":null,"bias_score":null,"confidence_score":null,"credibility_score":null,"factual_quality":null,"reading_time":2,"word_count":361,"view_count":0,"breaking":false,"breaking_news":false,"ai_analysis":null,"fact_check_status":"unverified","archive_status":"hot","language":null}}