19 firefighters dead in Yarnell (Arizona) (2 Viewers)
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A wildfire in Yarnell, Ariz., killed 19 firefighters on Sunday, June 30, 2013. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, David Kadlubowski)
The flames swept over the victims Sunday evening as they took cover in their foil-lined emergency shelters.
"This is as dark a day as I can remember," Gov. Jan Brewer said in a statement. "It may be days or longer before an investigation reveals how this tragedy occurred, but the essence we already know in our hearts: Fighting fires is dangerous work."
The windblown, lightning-sparked fire – which had exploded fourfold to about 13 square miles by Monday morning – also destroyed dozens of homes and sent hundreds fleeing from Yarnell, a town of 700 people in the mountains about 85 miles northwest of Phoenix.
Residents huddled in shelters and restaurants, watching their homes burn on TV as flames lit up the night sky in the forest above the town.
The fire killed 18 members of a hotshot crew based in nearby Prescott, plus a firefighter who was not part of the unit, Arizona Forestry Division spokesman Mike Reichling said.
One member of the hotshot crew survived because he was moving the unit's truck when the flames roared over the men, Reichling said.
"He's the only one who made it out because he was jockeying equipment at the time," Reichling said.
It was unclear exactly how the firefighters became trapped. Southwest incident team leader Clay Templin said the crew and its commanders were following safety protocols, but it appears the fire's erratic nature simply overwhelmed them.
What the fuck were they doing so close to a fire in the first place?
trying to stop the fire from spreading.
Laying under blankets isn't the way to do it.
That these fighters got trapped just shows how erratic and dangerous these wild fires are. hero's to me.
I've seen shows on TV about them. I wouldn't want to do that job - too risky, as evidenced by this thread.
A very sad outcome. Great read, Thanks for posting M!! 
fire fighters and police officers risk their lives everyday!! What a horrible way to die!. 
goregirlkayla88
When these guys realize that they're trapped and have no where to run, those blankets are their last resort. They're trained to dig into the ground (if they have time), wrap up in their fire-retardant tarps and get low into the area that they hopefully managed to dig out.
These fire fighters were elite and it seems that the wind very suddenly cracked up, turned and spread the fire so quickly that they were caught off-guard and surrounded by the flames. They probably didn't have much time to dig any sort of burrow to lay in once they donned their fire tarps to try and ride it out but instead were probably all still almost on ground level when the blaze swept over them.
Thanks for taking the time to explain, but I knew that. My comment was sarcastic/funny.
sad indeed =(
HotShot's firefighters, they died together doing what they loved.
Pebber
Well Known Member
I think they did under 9/11 right?
Quick fact: Some of the fireman in Detroit carry guns.
I've seen firemen in Flint also carry.
