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Wildfire ends bachelorette party early in Colorado River evacuation

Portrait of Dinah Voyles Pulver Dinah Voyles Pulver
June 30, 2026Updated July 1, 2026, 9:16 a.m. ET
Sidney Burleson and 15 friends, all experienced rafters, planned a bachelorette party rafting trip on the Colorado River. Burleson, second from right on the front row, and her friends were in high spirits on the morning of July 26, but less than 48 hours later, they were evacuated ahead of an advancing wildfire. The group was among 120 rafters evacuated by the Mesa County Search and Rescue on the night of June 27, 2026.
Sidney Burleson and 15 friends, all experienced rafters, planned a bachelorette party rafting trip on the Colorado River. Burleson, second from right on the front row, and her friends were in high spirits on the morning of July 26, but less than 48 hours later, they were evacuated ahead of an advancing wildfire. The group was among 120 rafters evacuated by the Mesa County Search and Rescue on the night of June 27, 2026.
Provided By Sidney Burleson
Sidney Burleson of Salt Lake City, Utah, and her fiancé Will McGowan, both graduates of Virginia Tech, plan a September wedding in Virginia.
Sidney Burleson of Salt Lake City, Utah, and her fiancé Will McGowan, both graduates of Virginia Tech, plan a September wedding in Virginia.
Provided By Sidney Burleson
Sidney Burleson and 15 of her friends had stopped for a break after combatting high winds during a bachelorette party rafting trip on the Colorado River on June 27 when they learned a wildfire was burning out of control nearby.
Sidney Burleson and 15 of her friends had stopped for a break after combatting high winds during a bachelorette party rafting trip on the Colorado River on June 27 when they learned a wildfire was burning out of control nearby.
Provided By Sidney Burleson
Smoke roars into the sky from the Snyder Fire as Sidney Burleson and her friends raft down the Colorado River for her bachelorette party on June 27, 2026.
Smoke roars into the sky from the Snyder Fire as Sidney Burleson and her friends raft down the Colorado River for her bachelorette party on June 27, 2026.
Provided By Sidney Burleson
Smoke from the Snyder Fire in Colorado and Utah fills the sky as Sidney Burleson and her friends raft down the Colorado River for her bachelorette party on June 27, 2026.
Smoke from the Snyder Fire in Colorado and Utah fills the sky as Sidney Burleson and her friends raft down the Colorado River for her bachelorette party on June 27, 2026.
Provided By Sidney Burleson
Members of the Mesa County Search and Rescue arrive on June 27, 2026 to tell Sidney Burleson and her friends that a large wildfire was burning out of control along the Colorado River, and could disrupt their bachelorette party rafting trip.
Members of the Mesa County Search and Rescue arrive on June 27, 2026 to tell Sidney Burleson and her friends that a large wildfire was burning out of control along the Colorado River, and could disrupt their bachelorette party rafting trip.
Provided By Sidney Burleson
More than 120 rafters and campers along roughly 25 miles of the Colorado River were evacuated on Saturday, June 27 as a rapidly growing wildfire threatened the area.
More than 120 rafters and campers along roughly 25 miles of the Colorado River were evacuated on Saturday, June 27 as a rapidly growing wildfire threatened the area.
Provided By Mesa County Search And Rescue
Sidney Burleson had always wanted to ride in a high rail vehicle like this one, which traverses railroad tracks for Union Pacific, she just never expected it to be how her bachelorette party would end.
Sidney Burleson had always wanted to ride in a high rail vehicle like this one, which traverses railroad tracks for Union Pacific, she just never expected it to be how her bachelorette party would end.
Provided By Sidney Burleson
Members of Sidney Burleson's bachelorette party raft trip board a Union Pacific high rail vehicle late in the evening on June 27 as the Mesa County Search and Rescue worked to evacuate rafters from the Colorado River ahead of the Snyder Fire.
Members of Sidney Burleson's bachelorette party raft trip board a Union Pacific high rail vehicle late in the evening on June 27 as the Mesa County Search and Rescue worked to evacuate rafters from the Colorado River ahead of the Snyder Fire.
Provided By Sidney Burleson
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