Wildfires continued to ravage parts of the Western United States Sunday, with firefighters honoring three colleagues who lost their lives in a recent blaze. Emily Barker, Nick Hutcherson, and Sydney Watson were killed after becoming trapped by flames on June 27 while battling fast-moving fires in Mesa County, western Colorado. The three were members of a Helitack crew, a specialized unit that deploys by helicopter to fight fires in remote areas.

During a memorial service in Grand Junction, Colorado, U.S. Wildland Fire Service Chief Brian Fennessy praised the firefighters for their dedication and courage, highlighting the impact they had on their communities. Barker, Hutcherson, and Watson had deployed emergency protective shelters—measures considered a last resort when escape is impossible. Two other crew members sustained burn injuries during the incident.

Although the fire responsible for their deaths is now nearly contained, roughly 40 large wildfires remain active across the Western states, including Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico, with outbreaks also reported as far north as Alaska and as far south as Arizona. Over the recent holiday weekend, authorities issued additional evacuation orders in four Colorado counties as the Aspen Acres fire expanded to about 136 square miles, damaging or destroying over 200 structures. The National Guard was mobilized to assist with checkpoint staffing near the affected zones. Officials attribute the severity and spread of these fires to prolonged dry conditions, minimal snowpack during winter, and unpredictable winds.

Meanwhile, Europe is also grappling with significant wildfire activity. In Portugal’s Vouzela region, over 1,200 firefighters supported by nearly 400 vehicles and 15 aircraft continued efforts to contain a blaze that began Thursday and had consumed approximately 30,000 acres as of Sunday. Spain and Italy contributed reinforcements, including hundreds of firefighters and aerial firefighting resources. Northern Spain’s Girona area faced a wildfire spanning close to 5,400 acres with a 25-mile perimeter that remained uncontained. In Greece, authorities in Thessaloniki advised residents to remain indoors due to hazardous smoke from a recycling plant engulfed by wildfire. Additionally, a new fire ignited west of Athens on Sunday afternoon.

In other news, a pastor affiliated with an underground church in China, Ezra Jin Mingri, was released and returned to Los Angeles following his detention in October during one of the country's most extensive crackdowns on religious groups in recent decades. Advocacy groups and Jin’s family credited direct intervention by Chinese President Xi Jinping, following discussions with then-U.S. President Donald Trump, for facilitating the release. The family expressed hope that the development signals improved religious freedom and bilateral relations, though the White House has not provided an official comment.

Elsewhere, a seaplane carrying eight people crashed into New York’s East River near Manhattan shortly after noon Sunday. All passengers and crew were safely extracted by emergency responders, with two individuals declining medical treatment for minor injuries. Preliminary reports indicate the plane struck a wave during landing, causing structural damage, and the Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation.

Finally, Slovakia’s recent referendum aimed at ending lifetime political pensions and reviving anti-corruption agencies failed due to low voter turnout. Only 16.1% of eligible voters participated, well short of the 50% required for a valid result. This marks another unsuccessful referendum in the country’s history, with only one prior measure—on EU membership in 2003—meeting the threshold.