May the Members of Granite Mountain Hotshots rest in peace. RT @JordanGhawi: 19 brothers. Gone. pic.twitter.com/yogoj1D0d8 #Yarnell
— Cathy O'Neill (@CAO916) July 1, 2013
Now reported as 18 #firefighters dead. From #Prescott AZ's #Granite Mountain Hotshots http://t.co/NzdMvK9Qaq pic.twitter.com/OPqZqUEbX5
— Dave Statter (@STATter911) July 1, 2013
Yarnell Hill Fire: Photo of the Prescott Fire Dept. Granite Mountain Hotshots from city website. pic.twitter.com/UGEy5E1yUo
— Arizona News (@ArizonaNewsnet) July 1, 2013
As Twitchy reported tonight, the deadly Yarnell Fire southwest of Prescott, Arizona, claimed the lives of 18-19 firefighters.
They served on the elite Granite Mountain Hotshot Crew, and just been battling another wildfire in New Mexico, according to this Twitter user:
Wow ~ @NMStateForestry: 'Granite Mountain Hotshots were just in New Mexico fighting the Thompson Ridge Fire' http://t.co/7JDBLpnqeU
— NewMexico FireWatch (@NMFireWatch) July 1, 2013
And they were busy fighting on several fronts in Arizona:
Here is another profile from last week on the Granite Mountain Hotshots #TruePros http://t.co/EuejaAhWPj
— bmaz (@bmaz) July 1, 2013
The Granite Mountain Hot Shots were among the first firefighters to attack the human-caused Doce fire that began Tuesday, June 18, in the Dosie Pit area of Prescott National Forest off Iron Springs Road in Prescott.
“Their crews of 20 are typically among the first ones in there – they’re on the front lines, and take a direct line of attack to the fire,” Ward said.
The Granite Mountain Hot Shots and the Prescott National Forest’s Prescott Hot Shots had just come off the fires in New Mexico when the Doce fire started, so they were nearby and able to help, Ward said.
Then four other Hot Shots groups from across the country, as well as firefighters from all over the state, joined them to fight the Doce fire.
Here's a shot of the Granite Mountain Hotshots after a firefighting excursion in Oregon. #Yarnell pic.twitter.com/n51cz78Pi2
— Adam Longo (@adamlongoTV) July 1, 2013
Our sympathies to the friends and family of Granite Mountain Hotshots lost today fighting the Yarnell Fire near… http://t.co/WKTvBtxKsd
— KAWC Public Media (@KAWC) July 1, 2013
https://twitter.com/terryfundca/status/351548642454282241
https://twitter.com/conway_cody/status/351555024939261952
To carry on in the firefighter tradition…. I will ! RIP brothers from Prescott Granite Mountain Hot Shots in Arizona.
RFB – KTF
— Jason Marshall (@jmarshall86) July 1, 2013
https://twitter.com/Alexandriah17/status/351529254250496000
https://twitter.com/OnlyMiOpinion/status/351552434520330240
#Prescott Fire Dept 'Granite Mountain Hotshots" — the most selfless, courageous, disciplined group imaginable. http://t.co/Wp2x5YWVIT RIP
— Rhode Island Red (@Rome_Fell) July 1, 2013
Facebook page already created to honor firefighters killed battling #YarnellHillFire https://t.co/9VJTfc0lnX
— Meredith Yeomans (@YeomansNBC5) July 1, 2013
Their heroism and dedication will not be forgotten.
.@ejmontini: Just as we needed them, and they answered, their families will be needing us. http://t.co/urM2R1CNVl #yarnellfire
— azcentral (@azcentral) July 1, 2013
Update:
This is the worst firefighter loss in a wildfire in 80 years and the worst loss in any incident since 9/11:
NEW: The #YarnellHillFire is the worst loss of US firefighters in a wildfire in 80 years, and in any incident since 9/11 via @weatherchannel
— 12 News (@12News) July 1, 2013
Details about how the blaze claimed the hot shot crew’s lives are emerging after the Sunday night press conference. Reportedly, many of the firefighters were found in emergency fire shelters that they carry on their hips:
@weatherchannel they have fire shelters on their hips..Did any of them use it? 🙁
— Gerard Freeman (@GerardFreeman) July 1, 2013
Photo: Granite Mountain Hotshots practice setting up emergency fire shelters. They were forced to deploy them today. pic.twitter.com/TEAdNYyJpi
— Preston Phillips (@PrestonTVNews) July 1, 2013
Example of Fire Shelters Used by Prescott Crew When Deployed: pic.twitter.com/jSt15cLIQg
— Nicholas A. Kovach (@TheKovach) July 1, 2013
Fire fighters killed in #yarnell hill fire had deployed their shelters. We still don't know what happened. #abc15
— Steve Irvin (@Steve_Irvin) July 1, 2013
RT @garytx: Starting to see reports that the LODDs on the Yarnell Hill Fire had deployed their shelters.
— Dave Lincoln (@FDChief251) July 1, 2013
https://twitter.com/nwfireblog/status/351547409874169856
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