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News from Central Arizona surrounding the Yarnell Hill Fire:
Recent photo of the Prescott Granite Mountain Hotshots from the Prescott AZ city website.
2011 portrait of the Prescott Granite Mountain Hotshots. Image from the USDA Forest Service.
From azcentral.com:
Arizona State forestry officials confirmed Sunday night that 19 firefighters have died in the Yarnell Hill Fire, which has devastated half of the town, forced residents to flee to Prescott for safety, and marked the deadliest wildfire tragedy for firefighters in state history.
“It’s a dark day,†said Mike Reichling, spokesperson for the Arizona State Forestry Division.
Reichling stated that the 19 firefighters were found in an area where 19 fire shelters had been deployed. Some were inside the shelters, others were not.
He expects about half of the town’s 500 homes to be destroyed by the fire, which is currently at zero percent containment and has already grown beyond 2,000 acres.
The fire is rapidly escalating to “Type 1†status, with federal assistance expected to arrive Monday morning. Reichling anticipates the number of personnel on the scene to reach around 400 as federal crews join the effort.
On Sunday afternoon, authorities ordered the evacuation of Yarnell and parts of Peeples Valley as a fast-moving, lightning-caused fire burned through 2,000 acres and reached the town limits.
Wind-driven flames forced the closure of 25 miles of State Route 89 between Congress and Kirkland, but residents could still travel approximately 30 miles to a shelter in Prescott, according to Reichling.
The Yarnell Hill Fire, ignited around 5:30 p.m. on Friday, was moving north and east at about half a mile per hour, fire officials reported.
As around 250 firefighters worked to contain the blaze, officials evacuated three subdivisions outside Yarnell, Reichling said.
Although the fire had reached the town limits, no structures had been lost as of 5 p.m., he added.
The fire remained at zero percent containment on Sunday, and was fueled by chaparral and grass, burning uphill on state land about 25 miles north of Wickenburg with flames up to 15–20 feet high.
The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office evacuated the Double Bar A Ranch and Model Creek areas, using reverse 911 calls and door-to-door alerts.
Sunday afternoon brought temperatures up to 101 degrees Fahrenheit and southwest winds reaching 22 miles per hour, which contributed to the fire’s rapid spread.
About 250 firefighters, including two Type 2 crews, three Type 1 crews, and four engines, were on the scene. Additional resources such as three Type 1 crews, seven helicopters, two air tankers, and multiple engines and air tankers were also deployed.
A total of 160 firefighters, including six hand crews, two helicopters, two engines, two single-engine air tankers, and a heavy air tanker, were battling the fire, according to Reichling.
Staff writer Yvonne Wingett contributed to this report.
From the ArizonaDailyStar:
Prescott Fire Department confirmed that 19 firefighters have died while fighting the Yarnell Hill fire on Sunday night, according to Fox 10 news. They were part of the Prescott Granite Mountain Hot Shots.
The wildfire was likely caused by a lightning strike on Saturday night.
The Yarnell Hill fire, located about 35 miles southwest of Prescott, has burned roughly 1,300 acres and forced the evacuation of 50 homes.
The fire started on Friday and had not yet destroyed any structures, but firefighters pushed it back from communities in an attempt to prevent further damage.
A growing fire in Yarnell forced around 600 residents to leave their homes.
Wildfire
David Kadlubowski
Dean Smith watches as the Yarnell Hill Fire encroaches on his home in Glenn Ilah on Sunday, June 30, 2013 near Yarnell, Ariz. The fire started on Friday and picked up momentum due to high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds. It has forced the evacuation of residents in the Peeples Valley area and the town of Yarnell. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, David Kadlubowski)
A gallery with several images is HERE.
USDA Forest Service website for Prescott Granite Mountain Hotshots:
Welcome to the Prescott Hotshot Crew Web Page!
Since 1973, when the crew first received Type I status, it has undergone many changes in equipment, technology, and training. However, the core mission of a Hotshot remains the same: to serve as elite wildland firefighters.
History
- The Prescott Hotshots began in 1972 as a Type II crew led by George Pittman, who used Prescott College students.
- In 1973, Durk Lokes took over and secured Type I status for the crew.
- Mark Zumwalt introduced new technologies and structure in 1975, making the crew interregional.
- In 1977, the crew grew to 30 members, with rotating sections to maintain a 20-person team at all times.
- Glenn Dundas, who took over in 1978, set the physical standards that are still in place today.
- Tom Tobin led the crew from 1985 to 1988, introducing new transportation and diversifying the workforce.
- Tony Sciacca became superintendent in 1988 and oversaw the move to the Prescott Fire Center in 1991.
- Curtis Heaton served from 1999 to 2001 before moving to the Fish and Wildlife Service.
- Jeff Andrews took over in 2002 and now serves as Deputy Fire Staff Officer for the Prescott National Forest.
- Darin Fisher has been superintendent since 2005 and continues to lead the crew today.
The Granite Mountain Hot Shots are part of the Wildland Fire Division of the Prescott Fire Department.
A feature article last year from cronkitenews.com on this crew can be found HERE.
Diving to the ground, crew members form a tight circle and point their feet toward the flames. This helps protect their torsos from heat and ensures smoke and fire don’t enter their shelters. They keep their faces close to the ground to breathe cooler air and avoid lung damage.
There’s nothing left to do but wait.
The Granite Mountain Hotshots, one of 112 Interagency Hotshot Crews nationwide, have never had to use shelters during a wildfire. Yet, knowing how to deploy them is critical for survival, especially in remote areas where help is far away.
Training is essential, particularly for the four rookies on the 22-member team.
“If we’re not doing it, we’re thinking about it,†said Eric Marsh, the crew’s superintendent.
“When we get out there, it’s a completely different game,†said Daniel McCarty, a squad leader. “We have to look out for each other.â€
The crew, one of 13 hotshot teams in Arizona, has eight full-time members and the rest work seasonally from April to September.
Being on a hotshot crew means being on call throughout the fire season, ready to respond at a moment’s notice.
Fire duty often means staying in the forest rather than returning to base camp, with some crew members spending up to two weeks in the wilderness, receiving supplies via helicopter.
Last year, the Granite Mountain Hotshots fought major fires in Arizona, including the Wallow, Horseshoe Two, and Monument fires, as well as blazes in Colorado, New Mexico, and Minnesota.
Operating in remote areas with minimal support makes training a way of life. On a recent weekday, the crew practiced setting up fire shelters and cutting fire lines.
It’s better to make mistakes in training than in a real fire.
“In most jobs, you don’t have to worry about your life every day,†said McCarty. “But in this job, you have to watch your buddy too.â€
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