Firefighters continue to fight wildfires in Western Colorado - three firefighters were killed, with 2 injured on Sunday

Firefighters continue battling dangerous wildfire conditions across western Colorado, where three major fires have now burned nearly 50,000 acres and claimed the lives of three federal firefighters.

The largest is the Snyder Mesa Fire near the Utah border, which has grown to more than 29,000 acres with no containment. The fire formed after four separate lightning-sparked fires merged in western Colorado and eastern Utah.

Federal officials have identified the three firefighters killed in Sunday's burnover as 38-year-old Emily Barker of Michigan, 27-year-old Nick Hutcherson of Arizona, and 27-year-old Sydney Watson of Alabama. Two other firefighters were injured after deploying emergency fire shelters as flames overran their crew. An investigation into the incident is underway.

Governor Jared Polis has declared a disaster emergency and activated the Colorado National Guard to assist with firefighting efforts. Evacuations remain in effect in parts of Mesa County, and public lands near the fire, including the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, remain closed.

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service has issued Red Flag Warnings across much of western and central Colorado through Monday evening. Forecasters warn that wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour and humidity as low as seven percent could cause existing fires to spread rapidly and increase the risk of new wildfire starts.