19 Firemen Burnt to Death in Arizona Wildfire
19 of the 20 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots perished on Sunday, fighting a fierce wilderness fire in Arizona. It was the greatest loss of firemen in a single disaster since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
By Sadho Ram — 02 Jul 2013, 05:54 PM — Updated over 11 years ago
This photograph of the firemen who died in Arizona wildfire has been released by US authorities
The Yarnell Hill fire killed all but one member of the 20-strong Granite Mountain "hotshot" team, the biggest loss of life among US firefighters since the September 11 attacks and the most from a wildfire in 80 years.
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Full list of the names of the firemen who died in the Arizona wildfire
Barack Obama also paid tribute to the men, while Arizona governor Jan Brewer ordered flags to be flown at half-mast.
Image via imgur.comHow did it happen?
The Granite Mountain Hotshots had fought wildfires already this season, in New Mexico and on the outskirts of Prescott, a blaze called Doce that forced the evacuation of several subdivisions but caused no deaths.
nytimes.comThey were trained and often expected to be on the ground for up to 21 days without a break, charging into fire with 40 pounds of gear on their backs.
go.comUsing chainsaws and pickaxes, they were given the job of getting close to big fires, to dig deep trenches and clear the ground of dried branches and leaves, to try to keep the fire from spreading.
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The Granite Mountain Hotshots “were hardworking, well-trained, experienced people,” Chief Fraijo said. They knew to pick escape routes and safety zones as they moved through the blazing forest
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When the dead firefighters were found, several, at least, were outside their emergency shelters, which are designed to offer protection from intense heat for a short time and meant to be used only as a last resort.
nytimes.comThe sole survivor, whom the authorities had not identified on Monday, might have been jockeying equipment and away from the rest of the men when flames overcame them, fire officials said.
go.comFriends and family mourn firemen killed in Arizona wildfire
More than 1,000 people turned out Monday to a Prescott gymnasium to honor the bravery and sacrifice of 19 Hotshot firefighters who died battling a wildfire in Arizona.
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Nineteen candles were lit at a memorial service Monday night to represent not only the brave sacrifice the men made, but the incredibly tragic loss of life. "This magnitude of a disaster is just overwhelming," said Charlie Hernandez of Prescott, Ariz.
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Firefighters gathered in an embrace at a memorial service in Prescott, Ariz., on Monday
Image via nytimes.comThe men were mostly born and bred in this city on the mountains, surrounded by thick forest of piñon pine and chaparral brush, parched by years of drought.
nytimes.comThey were young men, mostly, 14 of them in their 20s — outdoorsmen, fathers, heroes to the local high school athletes they themselves once were.
nytimes.comArizona wildfire continues to burn
Dry grass fed the fast-moving blaze, which has so far burnt more than 1,000 acres (405 ha).
Image via imgur.com
The firefighters were forced to deploy tent-like structures meant to shield them from flames after becoming trapped. "It's an extreme measure that's taken under the absolute worst conditions," Prescott Fire Chief Dan Fraijo said.
Image via imgur.com
The men were part of an elite unit especially trained for extreme fire situations, officials said.
Image via imgur.comThe blaze, which erupted Friday with a lightning strike, has grown to 8,400 acres with zero percent containment as of Monday night.
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At least 19 US firefighters have died in a wildfire raging in and around the town of Yarnell, about 80 miles (130km) north-west of Phoenix. The fire was started by lightning on Friday and spread rapidly amid high heat, low humidity and strong winds.
Image via imgur.comFour hundred firefighters now are battling the Arizona wildfire in Yarnell that killed 19 elite “hotshots” on Sunday night. Two hundred additional 200 firefighters have joined the fight.
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