| On Sunday June 30, nineteen firefighters with the Prescott Fire Department's interagency "Granite Mountain Hotshots" were overrun and killed by fire at the "Yarnell Hills Fire". Initial reports indicated that one of the firefighters was not a member of the hotshot crew, but Prescott Fire Chief Dan Fraijo confirmed that all 19 were from the "Granite Mountain Hotshots". There are a total of 20 members on the "Granite Mountain Hotshots" crew. The lone survivor of the "Granite Mountain Hotshots" was reported to have been moving the crew vehicle at the time of the burnover. 22 other people were injured. The "Yarnell Hills Fire" is an ongoing wildfire near Yarnell, Arizona. It started on Thursday, June 28, reportedly from a lightning strike, and quickly spread out of control. Well over 200 homes have also been destroyed in the fire.
Update: July 2, 2013 - The following names of the "Granite Mountain Hotshot" firefighters that died in the "Line of Duty" have been released:
- Kevin Woyjeck, 21
- Chris McKenzie, 30
- Billy Warneke, 25
- Scott Norris, 28
- Andrew Ashcraft, 29
– Anthony Rose, 23
– Eric Marsh, 43
– Robert Caldwell, 23
– Clayton Whitted , 28
– Dustin Deford, 24
– Sean Misner, 26
– Garret Zuppiger, 27
– Travis Carter, 31
– Grant McKee, 21
– Travis Turbyfill, 27
– Jesse Steed, 36
– Wade Parker, 22
– Joe Thurston, 32
– John Percin, 24
The Officers and members of the Union Bridge Fire Company extend our sincere condolences to the familys and friends of the fallen firefighters; as well as to the Prescott Fire Department ( http://www.cityofprescott.net/services/fire/hotshots/ ) and their community.
If you would like to help the victims of the "Yarnell Hills Fire", go to this website for more information: http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=1258363 |
