Grand Junction Fire Department Wildland Team

08/04/2026

07/25/2026

We are deeply saddened to share that wildland firefighter Nathan Matthews, 43, of Lincoln, Nebraska, died Friday from injuries sustained while responding to the Knowles Fire in western Colorado on June 27. Nate had been receiving medical care for burn injuries sustained during the incident.

Nate was a dedicated member of the Rifle Helitack crew out of Colorado and was one of five firefighters involved in a burnover during initial attack operations. Three firefighters – Emily Barker, Nick Hutcherson, and Sydney Watson – died at the scene.

Please keep Nate’s family and the wildland fire community in your thoughts. Information regarding memorial services for Nate will be released at a later date.

https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/fourth-firefighter-dies-following-knowles-fire-burnover-colorado

07/22/2026

GJFD’s BR6 crew were released from the Gold Mountain Fire and reassigned to fires near Craig, CO.
Yesterday, the crew responded with numerous other ground and air resources to the rapidly growing Fuhr Gulch Fire SW of Craig. The fire currently remains at 1,600 acres.

07/17/2026

GJFD’s BR6 is currently assigned to night operations on the Gold Mountain Fire. The crew is working south of Silverjack Reservoir.
BR4’s crew completed their last shift day on the 14th and returned to Grand Junction for some well deserved time off.

07/14/2026

GJFD also deploys “single resource “ firefighters that function as fire line supervisors on incidents. Task Force Leader (TFL) Taylor has been busy working with various resource types on the Gold Mountain Fire near Ridgeway, Colorado. TFL Taylor has also been working directly with GJFD’s BR4 crew working on structure protection and hose lays.

07/11/2026

GJFD’s BR4 and crew just completed day ten of their fourteen day deployment on the Gold Mountain Fire near Ridgeway, Colorado.
Conditions continue to be extremely hot and dry and are proving to be a constant challenge for crews.
To ensure local needs are met, GJFD also currently maintains two additional brush/wildland engines in the city for local responses.