Parents of Glendale firefighter killed in Colorado fire question investigation

The parents of a Glendale wildland firefighter killed while battling a fast-moving fire in western Colorado in June are demanding answers about the decisions made before his death and why some fire shelters used that day were discarded.

Ron and Lisa Hutcherson, the parents of Nick Hutcherson, issued a statement saying they were told three of the five shelters deployed during the fire were disposed of rather than kept as evidence.

They worry they may never know whether their son’s shelter worked as it should have.

Fire shelters are considered a wildland firefighter’s last line of defense when escape is no longer possible.