Wildfire kills 19 firefighters

[SniperDanWA]

wildfire kills firefighters in AZ

http://news.yahoo.com/19-firefighters-unaccounted-battling-arizona-wildfire-023551408.html

[X-Force]

That's just sad.

[SniperDanWA]

Yes it is.  Prayers to the families.

[denali]

OMG .. what a tragedy 

[elkslayer069]

Fun rewarding profession but i always have that in the back of my mind. Thoughts go out to the families.

[KFhunter]

When I am called to duty, God
whenever flames may rage,
Give me the strength to save some life
Whatever be its age.

Help me to embrace a little child
Before it’s too late,
Or some older person
from the horror of that fate.

Enable me to be alert
And hear the weakest shout,
And quickly and efficiently
to put the fire out.

I want to fill my calling
and give the best in me,
To guard my neighbor
And protect his property.

And if according to Your will
I have to lose my life,
Please bless with Your protecting hand
My children and my wife


RIP 

[bmccalister]

This is very sad. I just read about the tragedy on Firefighter Nation.

[firefighter4607]

At least 18 of them were from the Granite Mountain Hotshot Crew from Prescott, AZ and also they are members of the Prescott Fire Department. A sad day for the firefighting community.
Here is a local news story link and a FB page in memory of the fallen firefighters.

 http://www.kpho.com/story/22724064/18-firefighters-dead-in-yarnell-wildfire

 https://m.facebook.com/InMemoryOfPrescottFirefightersLost6302013?id=201948723293351&_rdr#!/photo.php?fbid=201968746624682&id=201948723293351&set=a.201955673292656.1073741827.201948723293351&__user=532357660

[bearpaw]

just heard it on the radio, very sad.... 

[ICEMAN]

How horrible.

[Smossy]

Sad.

[danderson]

Its a sad day when anyone dies, but what makes this tragedy even worse is the fact that these firefighters were members of a highly trained hot shot crew, who spent many hours, days, years training to avoid this kind incident,
RIP my firefighting brothers.

[Jingles]

Brings back memories of the thirty mile fire

[Bean Counter]

I was just over there

      

[MLBowhunting]

How sad.  Rip 

[RadSav]

Can't wait for hunting season to start so we can get some good news on here for a change.

What a horrible situation.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families.

[Machias]

   

[rasbo]

heart felt prayers for the families

[Knocker of rocks]

Horrible and sad.

I think this is the most firefighter fatalities in a wildfire since the start of modern wildfire fighting and science in the US. 

[jyerxa]

Whooeeee that is a lot! 

[Blacklab]

Very sad heard this morning god bless em

[Hunting Cowboy]

.

[C-Money]

Tragic. 

[Knocker of rocks]

If I understand things correctly, this was the only local Hotshots in the country.  All other Hotshots are attached to a federal agency like the NPS, BIA, USFS etc.  This was also a rather small fire, and management was local and had not reverted to the Inter-agrecy Fire Management team?

[PlateauNDN]

Very tragic and thoughts and prayers to the family.

[Huntboy]

Very tragic and thoughts and prayers to the family.

 

[Wazukie]

If I understand things correctly, this was the only local Hotshots in the country.  All other Hotshots are attached to a federal agency like the NPS, BIA, USFS etc.  This was also a rather small fire, and management was local and had not reverted to the Inter-agrecy Fire Management team?

It was a Hot Shot Team, trained just like any other Hot Shot Team.  The fire was over 8000 acres, at least 50 structures, and over 500 lives threatened by the fire.  I'd say that it was not a small fire.  Not sure what difference your questions make?  They were trained, something went wrong, they deployed their shake-n-bake's and it didn't work.  19 fire fighter are dead, nough said. 

Praying for the families of these guys.

[TheHunt]

Very tragic and my prayers to the families. 


It is probably a little early from a timing perspective but this should have never happened.  Someone made a bad decision which caused this.  I am sure the media will get to the bottom of it.

[Doublelunger]

Thinking of my hotshot brothers....keeping chin up.  Makes one really think.

[Knocker of rocks]

Edited because the media has rescinded some earlier reports

[Elkaholic daWg]

 Sad, Sad Story. 

[firefighter4607]

This was also a rather small fire, and management was local and had not reverted to the Inter-agrecy Fire Management team?

It was a Hot Shot Team, trained just like any other Hot Shot Team.  The fire was over 8000 acres, at least 50 structures, and over 500 lives threatened by the fire.  I'd say that it was not a small fire.  Not sure what difference your questions make?

Yes the hotshot team was a local resource Prescott Fire Department, but they were one of the best in the area. This started out as a small fire but the conditions changed rapidly and the fire tripled in size less than a couple hours. It started at 200 acres yesterday and today it is at 8,000 acres. The problem happened when they received 50mph wind gusts. Here is a time lap video of the fire notice the smoke plume and the wind at about 6 seconds.
They had a IMT team ordered for that fire, but it takes hours for an overhead team to assemble and get set up.
Also if anyone wants to donate to help wildland firefighter victim's or families of loss firefighters here is a link: http://www.wffoundation.org/SectionIndex.asp?SectionID=5


 http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=QT1Z5l0hHYk&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DQT1Z5l0hHYk

Updated a list of the names and ages of the ones who lost their lives saving others.
 Ashcraft, Andrew - Age: 29
Caldwell, Robert - Age: 23
Carter, Travis - Age: 31
Deford, Dustin - Age: 24
MacKenzie, Christopher - Age: 30
Marsh, Eric - Age: 43
McKee, Grant - Age: 21
Misner, Sean - Age: 26
Norris, Scott - Age: 28
Parker, Wade - Age: 22
Percin, John - Age: 24
Rose, Anthony - Age: 23
Steed, Jesse - Age: 36
Thurston, Joe - Age: 32
Turbyfill, Travis - Age: 27
Warneke, William - Age: 25
Whitted, Clayton - Age: 28
Woyjeck, Kevin - Age: 21
Zuppiger, Garret - Age: 27

[time2hunt]

Rest in peace brothers and sisters

[BOWHUNTER45]

Can't wait for hunting season to start so we can get some good news on here for a change.

What a horrible situation.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families.

Jeeeez..you nailed that one ....

[ckr]

Our thoughts and prayers go out to my brothers families. 

[Bofire]

19 HEROS gone. All they did was give, they got very little recognition, were not thought of by many, and they laid thier lives down for us without a seconds doubt.
I am truely in awe
Carl

[Fishnclifff]

 

Pick up your shovels boys there's smoke in the air,
Lightning has struck and they need us there.

Into the trucks and gear, fire knows not the cost,
If it's not stopped, innocent lives will be lost.

The fire is running and there's no time to spare,
Dig that line and drag that hose, bring all forces to bear.

But, the wind's come up and something is wrong,
Run boys, run, that fire is too strong!

Pull off your packs and into your shelters,
Pray for our children and for their mothers.

The fire has passed and so have we.
Into the wind like the smoke through the trees.

After they stop that fire they call Yarnell Hill,
Our brothers will honor us and drink toasts to their fill.

We’re joining our brothers in a legendary crew.
If others join us tomorrow, please let them be few."

- Matt Greenhalgh

[Clark33]

This is my second season on the Entiat Hotshots, very sad day for the wildland community.  We held a fundraiser BBQ in Cashmere today and the support was overwhelming.  I am proud and honored to work in such a supportive community and am proud to say we raised just over $6,500.00 today, all of which will go directly to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation.  They deal directly with these situations and are a top notch non profit organization.  Prayers go out to all those involved.

[Doublelunger]

This is my second season on the Entiat Hotshots, very sad day for the wildland community.  We held a fundraiser BBQ in Cashmere today and the support was overwhelming.  I am proud and honored to work in such a supportive community and am proud to say we raised just over $6,500.00 today, all of which will go directly to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation.  They deal directly with these situations and are a top notch non profit organization.  Prayers go out to all those involved.

That's awesome! I figured their had to be a few other hotshots on here. I've been with the Union Hotshots 8 years. We're raising money for the foundation as well.  They're going to need all the help they can get. Stay safe brother...keep that chin up!

[runningboard]

I am a former Hotshot from the Lassen crew in N. Cali and several years on the Lolo crew out of Missoula, when I heard this I got sick to my stomach as I was @ 30 mile 2 days after tragedy struck and my best friend was 1 of the guys who went and found those folks. I was in Arizona in 94 when we lost 14 brothers and sisters in Colorado. Been praying every day for these folks and their families. RIP

[Bean Counter]

This is my second season on the Entiat Hotshots, very sad day for the wildland community.  We held a fundraiser BBQ in Cashmere today and the support was overwhelming.  I am proud and honored to work in such a supportive community and am proud to say we raised just over $6,500.00 today, all of which will go directly to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation.  They deal directly with these situations and are a top notch non profit organization.  Prayers go out to all those involved.

That's awesome! I figured their had to be a few other hotshots on here. I've been with the Union Hotshots 8 years. We're raising money for the foundation as well.  They're going to need all the help they can get. Stay safe brother...keep that chin up!

Great job, fellers! 

[JJD]

indeed very tragic