GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KJCT) -A procession stretching more than 200 miles carried the body of Nathan Matthews, the fourth firefighter to die following the Knowles Fire near the Colorado-Utah border, from Denver to Grand Junction on Friday.
Matthews was a member of the interagency Rifle Helitack crew, five of whom were involved in a burnover event while responding to the Gore and Knowles fires. Three other crew members, Emily Barker, Nicholas Hutcherson, and Sydney Watson, died during the entrapment. Matthews died weeks later from injuries sustained in the event. The Knowles Fire later became the Snyder Fire.
Procession draws crowds along I-70
A line of vehicles traveled along I-70 escorting Matthews’ body. Along the route, people lined overpasses and the roadside, including local fire departments and members of the public.
“They left the federal center in Denver early this morning and we are so appreciative of the outpouring of support we saw along the entire route,” said Erin McDuff, spokesperson for the U.S. Wildland Fire Service…