Fire shelters are a key defense for firefighters. But they don't guarantee survival
This image provided by Cal Fire shows firefighters practicing deployment of fire shelters used for training during an exercise in Paynes Creek, Calif., on May 6, 2025. (Cal Fire via AP)
Five firefighters battling a fast-moving wildfire in Colorado were forced to deploy their fire shelters when they couldn't escape the flames. Three of them were overcome and died, while two were injured and hospitalized.
Fire shelters are mandatory equipment for crews who work across rugged terrain where things can change at a moment's notice, especially when extremely dry and windy weather drives the flames, as happened last Saturday.
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