Sunday brought a heavy reminder to western Colorado — it’s been 31 years since the Storm King Mountain Fire near Glenwood Springs claimed the lives of 14 wildland firefighters. Their bravery and tragic loss are etched into wildfire history, and every July locals pause to remember.

The Day a Lightning Strike Changed Everything

It started on July 2, 1994. A single lightning bolt struck Storm King Mountain, sparking what seemed like a manageable blaze. But four days later, Mother Nature had other plans.

On July 6, a dry cold front roared through, pushing 45 mph winds across the ridge. Flames jumped containment lines, racing uphill so fast that even the most experienced crews had no chance to outrun them.

One sentence: Fire shelters were deployed, escape routes were taken, but the storm’s fury was merciless.

The Brave 14 Who Never Made It Home

Every name on that list comes with a story — families, friendships, dreams that never got to grow old.

Among those lost were nine hotshots, three smokejumpers, and two helitack crewmembers. They were:

• Kathi Beck

• Tami Bickett

• Scott Blecha

• Levi Brinkley

• Robert Browning

• Douglas Dunbar

• Terri Hagen

• Bonnie Holtby

• Rob Johnson

• Jon Kelso

• Don Mackey

• Roger Roth

• James “Jim” Thrash

• Richard Tyler

In Glenwood Springs and beyond, they’re known simply as the Storm King 14. Some were just in their twenties, fresh-faced and fearless, chasing a dangerous job to protect communities they’d never met.

Lessons Burned Into Firefighting History

The South Canyon Fire, as it’s officially called, reshaped how crews fight wildland fires today.

According to the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center, the tragedy exposed gaps in communication, escape route planning, and weather prediction. Since then, agencies have doubled down on safety drills, shelter training, and real-time weather updates.

One-liner: It shouldn’t take 14 lives to learn, but their legacy keeps others safer.

A Community That Still Feels the Loss

Each year, Glenwood Springs Fire Department and others post tributes. Social media fills with photos of the mountain’s rugged slopes and the names etched in stone at the memorial site.

The Grand Junction Fire Department shared their own words: “We remember their courage, dedication, and the enduring legacy they left behind… To the fallen, you are never forgotten.”

Locals, especially those who were kids back then, still recall the thick smoke hanging over the valley. Some remember watching the helicopters thunder overhead, hoping the fire would break. It didn’t.

How the Storm King Fire Changed Families

Behind every firefighter’s name is a family that got the knock on the door. Parents, siblings, partners — they’ve spent three decades carrying memories and pushing for safer conditions for today’s crews.

Bonnie Holtby’s brother once said in an interview that every July brings a strange mix of pride and pain. “We lost her to the mountain,” he said, “but she died doing what she believed in.”

The Mountain Stands Quiet Today

These days, the Storm King Mountain Trail is open to hikers who want to pay respects. A tough climb takes you to the crosses marking where each firefighter fell. Wind whispers through the brush — a stark reminder of that dry front in ’94.

One sentence: The view from up there is stunning and sobering all at once.

A Reminder as Wildfire Season Rages On

As Colorado stares down another hot, dry summer, the Storm King 14 remind us that fire seasons are getting longer and more dangerous. But their sacrifice wasn’t in vain.

More training. Better tools. Improved communication. All because they showed us where we failed.

So as the anniversary passes, locals say a quiet thank you — and a promise to remember. Because forgetting isn’t an option.