Our hearts go out to family and friends of those firefighters who lost their lives fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona. A statement on the tragedy from U.S. Fire Administrator Ernest Mitchell:
“It is with great sorrow that I received news of the loss of 19 firefighters responding to the Yarnell Hill Fire in Yavapai County, Arizona. This is a tragic loss for the citizens of Arizona and the nation as a whole. These brave firefighters were responding to a wildfire with the potential to destroy homes and structures in a wildfire season among the worst in many years.”
“The U.S. Fire Administration remains in close coordination with the firefighting communities in Arizona, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Department of Interior, and the National Interagency Fire Center. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently awarded a fire management assistance grant for the Yarnell Hill Fire, making financial support available for ongoing efforts to fight and mitigate the volatile wildfire conditions.”
Firefigter Andrew Ashcraft, 29
Firefigter Robert Caldwell, 23
Firefigter Travis Carter, 31
Firefigter Dustin Deford, 24
Firefigter Christopher MacKenzie, 30
Firefigter Eric Marsh, 43
Firefigter Grant McKee, 21
Firefigter Sean Misner, 26
Firefigter Scott Norris, 28
Firefigter Wade Parker, 22
Firefigter John Percin, 24
Firefigter Anthony Rose, 23
Firefigter Jesse Steed, 36
Firefigter Joe Thurston, 32
Firefigter Travis Turbyfill, 27
Firefigter William Warneke, 25
Firefigter Clayton Whitted 28
Firefigter Kevin Woyjeck, 21
Firefigter Garret Zuppiger, 27
... members of the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew, Prescott Fire Department, were killed while working the Yarnell Hill fire near Yarnell, Arizona, when their position was overrun by flames.
The Yarnell Hill fire was listed at 800 acres on Sunday morning. When a thunder cell passed over, the fire blew up. Wind gusts of 40-50 mph occurred. Fire crews were reported to have deployed their fire shelters at about 1755hrs. Because of poor visibility, fire behavior, and high wind, no contact was made with the crew for a little more than an hour. Shortly thereafter, confirmation of the multiple firefighter fatalities was made. Investigation into the fatal incident continues.
Our condolences to the Families & Friends of the Fallen 19 Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew, the Prescott Fire Department, and to all affected by this tragic loss to the Fire Service of the 19 Fallen Firefighter's.
To date, 62 firefighter fatality have been reported to USFA in 2013. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) Fatality Notices page.
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
