Fallen firefighter Nathan “Nate” Matthews arrived along with his family at Grand Junction Regional Airport just before noon on Friday, passing a line of firefighters and other first responders saluting as the honor escort with his remains passed by.
Vehicles from the U.S. Wildland Fire Service Honor Guard, U.S. Forest Service, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, Colorado Bureau of Investigation and Colorado State Patrol formed the honor escort, which left from Denver early Friday morning.
The honor escort drove through the mountains to bring Matthews back to Grand Junction where he was part of a Rifle Helitack crew of five that were caught in a burnover incident during the Knowles Fire on June 27 in western Mesa County. Three other firefighters died on that day — Nick Hutcherson, Emily Barker, Sydney Watson.
Matthews, 43, of Lincoln, Nebraska, died from injuries sustained in that fire last Friday, July 24.
A fifth firefighter was also injured in that burnover incident, which remains under investigation.
Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control firefighter Ryan McCulley was in Grand Junction awaiting the honor escort Friday along with many other firefighters from around the state and region, along with other first responders and law enforcement including from local agencies. He said he was thankful to see the support for Matthews from the fire community.
“Fire is a small world, small community, and whether we work for a different agency or not, we all work together and we all rely on each other,” McCulley said. “It just means a lot to have everybody come out and support the families and the fire community, just to show that honor for everybody.”
Grand Junction residents Lonney and Linda Steinhoff were among the line of vehicles showing their support for the fallen firefighter. Their son is a retired firefighter and their grandson is training in wildland firefighting, Lonney said.
“They’re trained so well and yet that fire has a mind of its own,” Lonney said. “It can leap over them and overtake them. They can’t run fast enough. But, they work so hard to study what the fire’s doing while they’re fighting.”
Linda said losing four wildland firefighters who were working to protect the community was difficult, as is knowing there are still firefighters working on fires in the state currently.
“We smell the smoke here in town,” Linda said. “We know what’s happening. It’s awful. It’s awful to know that they’re out in this heat fighting (fires).”
Both said they were glad to see the community come out to support Matthews’ family and the firefighting community.
Communities across the state were encouraged to show their support from overpasses over Interstate 70 as the escort passed by. The Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit posted social media updates with the escort’s location as it crossed the state.
McCully and other firefighters had placed black tape over their badges as a sign of honor and respect for Matthews. He said the honor escort was a reminder of the dangers wildland firefighters face.
“Moving forward, it’s just a somber reminder that the job is dangerous,” McCully said. “We do the best we can to keep each other safe and come home at the end of the day.”
Memorial Service
The U.S. Wildland Fire Service will honor the life and service of Nathan “Nate” Matthews during a public memorial service at 10 a.m. today at The Avalon Theatre in Grand Junction.