Yarnell fire claims 19 hotshot firefighters (more)

ABC15.com published a touching article about the final journey of 19 hotshot firefighters who lost their lives while battling the Yarnell Fire in Arizona last week. The story details the emotional and solemn procession that brought the firefighters home for the last time. PHOENIX – On Sunday, the bodies of the 19 firefighters who died in the wildfire were transported in individual white hearses, forming a somber caravan that traveled 125 miles through Arizona. The five-hour-long procession started near the state Capitol in Phoenix, passed through the town where the Granite Mountain Hotshots were killed, and ended in Prescott, where they lived and will be laid to rest this week. Thousands of people gathered along the route, braving triple-digit temperatures, to honor the fallen heroes. They stood on highways, overpasses, and in downtown Prescott, showing their respect with tears, salutes, and hands over their hearts. Among those present were fellow firefighters, family members, strangers, and residents of Yarnell, the small town the firefighters were trying to protect. Bill Morse, a fire captain from Flagstaff, described the moment as "overwhelming" and "heartbreaking." In downtown Prescott, Whiskey Row, usually lively with bars and businesses, fell eerily quiet as the hearses passed by. Many carried flags and signs reading “Courageous, selfless, fearless, beloved,” “Yarnell remembers,” and “Heroes.” Motorcycle escorts, honor guards, and firefighting trucks accompanied the procession. In both Phoenix and Prescott, the hearses drove under giant American flags raised by firefighter trucks, while bagpipes played and crowds fell silent. A DC-3 plane used for wildland firefighting released long purple and pink ribbons with each firefighter’s name, which drifted down just before the hearses arrived at the medical examiner’s office. Each hearse carried an American flag that had been draped over the firefighters’ bodies at the scene of their deaths, and these flags will be given to their families after burial. Family members watched the procession from a distance, away from the public eye, as the route passed a large makeshift memorial outside the Prescott fire station. The memorial featured hundreds of messages, photos, flags, and symbolic items like 19 water bottles and toy fire trucks surrounding a teddy bear. Since their bodies were found, the firefighters have never been alone, a tradition among U.S. firefighters. Paul Bourgeois, a fire chief acting as a spokesperson for the families, explained that a brother firefighter has always been present, from the medical examiner’s office to the funeral home, until the final burial. The firefighters died a week ago during the Yarnell Hill fire, which was sparked by lightning on June 28. At the time, crews were close to containing the blaze, which destroyed over 100 homes and burned about 13 square miles. The town remained evacuated, but residents were expected to return soon. The crew was working to build a fire line between the blaze and Yarnell when sudden wind shifts caused the fire to change direction, leading to the tragic loss of life. The article also highlights efforts to support the families of the fallen firefighters. A memorial t-shirt campaign is underway, with all proceeds going to a relief fund established by the United Phoenix Fire Fighters Association. Donations can be made at any Chase bank, with 100% of the funds going directly to the families. An article from TimesUnion.com provides additional details about the conditions during the fire and the aftermath.

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