Oregon Wildfire Advances Near Sisters as Fourth Firefighter Dies Following Colorado Incident

As dry, windy conditions fueled a large wildfire north of Sisters in central Oregon, authorities reported Saturday that a fourth firefighter had died after being overcome by a fast-moving blaze near the Colorado-Utah border last month.

Nathan Matthews, 43, of Lincoln, Nebraska, died Friday, according to a statement from the federal Interior Department.

Multiple wildfires continued burning across the western United States during a summer of elevated fire activity. One of the largest fires, designated the top priority for firefighting resources, was located several miles north of Sisters, a city of roughly 3,000 residents.

Winds gusting to 30 mph threatened to expand the fire’s footprint. Firefighters recorded progress containing the blaze, and officials expressed optimism that the city would remain unaffected once peak winds subsided Sunday.

“It’s going to take a while to put it out entirely. But as long as it stops moving, I think that’ll get people to relax a little bit,” Sisters Mayor Jennifer Letz said.

The lightning-caused fire had burned approximately 40 square miles and was 5 percent contained as of Saturday. About 30 residents evacuated from areas north of Sisters were staying at a shelter in the local high school, while a similar number remained in recreational vehicles outside the facility, Letz said.

The city faced no immediate threat, and normal business activity continued, according to Letz.

“We’re not necessarily asking everybody to come to Sisters. But it’s safe here,” Letz said.

Extended dry conditions, below-average snowpack in portions of the region, periods of high temperatures, and variable winds have contributed to fire activity in Oregon, Washington, California, Colorado, and other western states this summer.

In Canada, 926 fires were active Saturday, including 82 classified as out of control, according to the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System. Roughly 300 aircraft and 5,300 personnel were assigned to firefighting operations nationwide, including 133 personnel in northwestern Ontario, according to the province’s Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services agency. The largest fire in Ontario had burned about 1,200 square miles.

The U.S. firefighter who died was part of a group that deployed emergency shelters on June 27 when flames advanced in Mesa County, Colorado, west of Grand Junction. Three crew members died at the scene: Emily Barker, 38; Nick Hutcherson, 27; and Sydney Watson, 26. The group belonged to a Helitack unit that deploys by helicopter to remote locations to suppress new or rapidly growing fires.

Matthews and one additional firefighter received medical treatment. The Interior Department did not provide details Saturday regarding their care, Matthews’ service history, or the condition of the surviving firefighter.

A memorial service was held earlier this month for Watson, Hutcherson, and Barker. Arrangements for Matthews had not been announced.