Family, friends and fellow firefighters honor the life of woman killed battling Colorado wildfire
By Ayron Lewallen
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ala. (WVTM) — A small community honored the life of someone it feels made the ultimate sacrifice.
Corner native Sydney Watson was one of three firefighters killed while battling the Knowles Fire near the Utah-Colorado border. A celebration of life happened on Tuesday at her home church in Empire.
It was an emotional day for the hundreds of friends, family and fellow firefighters who knew Watson. Many of them said they just didn’t have words after the service, but one thing stood out. Everyone who knew—and even those who didn’t know her—loved and admired Watson.
Outside Highpoint Community Church, a flag arch stood as a symbol of the sacrifice that shadows the work of first responders.
Brian Fennessy and Matt Russell said they didn’t know Watson but felt it was important to comfort the people who loved her most. Those who worked with Watson remembered both her character and her commitment to the job.
“We honor that, and that’s the reason we’re here today,” Russell said, “to honor her sacrifice and the things that she has done to instill trust in the fire service, and she’s carried on that tradition—paying the ultimate sacrifice.”
Now, as they grieve her loss, the fire service family she was part of is leaning on one another for strength in the days ahead.
“These wildland fire jobs are extremely challenging physically and mentally,” Fennessy said. “These firefighters are away from home for weeks at a time. Many of them have families. It’s very tough—not just physically but mentally. It bonds people together. We talk about a fire family—you really see it come out again when you know a firefighter gets injured or firefighters get killed in the line of duty, and it touches all of us.”
U.S. Wildland Fire Service said the fire that took Watson’s life is still being investigated, but so far it believes she and the other firefighters followed the proper protocol and did exactly what they were supposed to when fighting it.
The family is asking people to support by donating to the National Park Service and the Windland Firefighter Foundation in Watson’s honor.
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