Horrible news from Arizona tonight:
Very sad, pray for the families- Breaking news per Daily Courier. 18 Prescott firefighters die in blaze. #yarnellfirehttp://t.co/RMVSuXOoYC
— Greg Byrne (@Greg_Byrne) July 1, 2013
From the Daily Courier:
The Prescott Fire Department lost nearly its entire crew today – the Granite Mountain Hotshots – with 18 firefighters dying and one surviving.
Prescott Fire spokesman Wade Ward told The Daily Courier the crew was battling the Yarnell fire, which has resulted in evacuations as it has grown to an estimated 1,300 acres in size.
A report of eight injured firefighters earlier in the evening was unconfirmed.
Our thoughts and prayers are with these brave heroes and their families.
The Arizona Republic reports the fire has burned over 2,000 acres and has zero containment.
#Yarnell fire buring entire town. Multiple #firefighters missing. http://t.co/RpE1EOmsLU and #12News for the latest pic.twitter.com/IWW2l1C1kA
— Michael Meister (@photomeisterAZR) July 1, 2013
Flames getting dangerously close to Yarnell, everyone is leaving town. #yarnellfire pic.twitter.com/rvs3dThSPV
— Jeffrey Blackburn (@lensjb) June 30, 2013
WATCH LIVE: #YarnellFire burning near Prescott; 800 acres burned, residents being evacuated http://t.co/dBT1Xlq8uw pic.twitter.com/kh0PqXTN7b
— ABC15 Arizona (@abc15) June 30, 2013
Even the firefighters are evacuating. #yarnellfire pic.twitter.com/Wubv18vSNN
— Michelle Ye Hee Lee (@myhlee) June 30, 2013
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Twitchy will monitor this story and post updates as they become available.
(hat tip @einfal)
Updates: Some reports say death toll is 19.
Have another confirmation: Prescott fire dept's ENTIRE wildland firefighting crew has been killed in the #yarnellfire @12News
— William Pitts (@william_pitts) July 1, 2013
https://twitter.com/MarkCasey12News/status/351546887737835521
#BREAKING | Watch LIVE: Ariz. forestry official says 19 firefighters killed battling wildfire. http://t.co/rJhSUer9WZ #YarnellFire
— azfamily 3TV CBS 5 (@azfamily) July 1, 2013
UPDATE on #YarnellFire: 19 firefighters dead; half of area's homes to burn. LIVE COVERAGE: http://t.co/EaibKdP1lw
— 12 News (@12News) July 1, 2013
Please keep all affected in your prayers.
Please take a moment to pray for the Prescott Fire Fighters. 19 confirmed killed and 22 wounded. #yarnellfire
— Running With Scissors ? (@barkeep_onemore) July 1, 2013
Please pray for the fallen hot shot crew #Yarnellfire https://t.co/Xk3cOfkK7i
— Running With Scissors ? (@barkeep_onemore) July 1, 2013
AZ Sen. Flake reacts:
19 firefighters dead battling #yarnellfire. I am sick with the news. Prayers go out to all affected.
— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) July 1, 2013
AZ’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County tweets:
My thoughts and prayers go to the families of those who lost loved ones battling the Yarnell fire and those who continue to battle the blaze
— Sheriff Joe Arpaio (@RealSheriffJoe) July 1, 2013
Former AZ congresswoman Gabby Giffords adds:
Hearing that 19 firefighters were killed in Arizona today fighting the #yarnellfire. Absolutely devastating news.
— Gabrielle Giffords (@GabbyGiffords) July 1, 2013
https://twitter.com/RyanPrakOHara/status/351552858069532673
One Twitter user in Arizona posts a photo of what seemingly started out as a small fire caused by lightning on Friday night.
#yarnellfire. Saturday around 4 pm. Locals told us lightning Friday night started what is now 4,000 acre fire?? pic.twitter.com/9R4UUreTWi
— Garry Cahal (@gcahal) July 1, 2013
Details from the press conference late tonight as Yarnell and Prescott continue to battle the blaze:
LIVE NOW: Prescott Fire Chief confirms "entire crew lost" in #yarnellfire. "We are an organization in grief." http://t.co/fXD7llrdDS
— azcentral (@azcentral) July 1, 2013
"We grieve for the families, we grieve for the department, we grieve for the city" says Prescott Fire chief #yarnellhillsfire – #12news
— Mark Casey (@MarkCaseyNews) July 1, 2013
Firefighters killed in #YarnellHillFire is the most killed in a single incident since 9/11 – via @NBCNews
— Jane (@JaneLednovich) July 1, 2013
Smoke, winds played big role today in #yarnellfire. Smoke was shifting left and right. Created zero visibility. pic.twitter.com/G5m9l4Gd1U
— Michelle Ye Hee Lee (@myhlee) July 1, 2013
State to begin tomorrow investigating the 19 firefighter deaths. #yarnellfire
— Michelle Ye Hee Lee (@myhlee) July 1, 2013
Update:
Tributes to fallen Arizona’s Granite Mountain Hotshot Crew flood Twitter
Update: It is now being confirmed that the death toll is 19.
https://twitter.com/JodyBernier/status/351648556161048576
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