Breaking news from Central Arizona regarding 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
According to azcentral.com:
Arizona State forestry officials confirmed late Sunday that 19 firefighters lost their lives in the Yarnell Hill Fire, which has devastated half of the town, forced residents to flee to Prescott for safety, and marked the state's worst wildfire tragedy involving firefighters.
“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, while others were not.
He expects around half of the town’s 500 homes to be destroyed by the fire, which is currently growing with no containment and has already exceeded 2,000 acres.
The fire has reached “Type 1†status, and federal authorities are expected to arrive Monday morning. Reichling anticipates the number of personnel responding to the fire will reach about 400 as federal support arrives.
Fire officials ordered the evacuation of Yarnell and parts of Peeples Valley on Sunday afternoon due to a fast-moving, lightning-caused fire that had burned up to 2,000 acres and was approaching the town.
Strong winds caused the fire to spread rapidly, leading to the closure of 25 miles of State Route 89 between Congress and Kirkland. However, residents could still travel approximately 30 miles to a shelter in Prescott.
The Yarnell Hill Fire, which started at around 5:30 p.m. on Friday, was moving north and east at a rate of about half a mile per hour, according to fire officials.
About 250 firefighters were working to contain the blaze on Sunday, with three subdivisions outside Yarnell evacuated as a precaution.
Although the fire had reached the town limits of Yarnell, no structures had been lost as of 5 p.m., according to Reichling.
The Yarnell Hill Fire remained at 0% containment as of Sunday night, officials reported.
Fueled by chaparral and grass, the fire was burning uphill on state land about 25 miles north of Wickenburg, with flames reaching 15 to 20 feet high, he said.
The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office evacuated the Double Bar A Ranch and Model Creek areas, with reverse 911 calls and door-to-door alerts conducted by deputies.
Sunday afternoon saw temperatures rise to 101 degrees, with southwest winds blowing up to 22 mph, Reichling said. Low humidity, fuel type, topography, and wind direction were all contributing factors to the fire's rapid spread toward communities.
About 250 firefighters, including two Type 2 crews, three Type 1 crews, and four engines, were on the scene, Reichling said. Additional resources included three Type 1 crews, seven helicopters, two air tankers, four single-engine air tankers, and multiple engines and air tankers.
A total of 160 firefighters, including six hand crews, two helicopters dropping water, two engines, two single-engine air tankers, and a heavy air tanker, were battling the fire, he said.
Staff writer Yvonne Wingett contributed to this report.
From the ArizonaDailyStar:
The Prescott Fire Department confirmed that 19 firefighters died while fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire on Sunday night, according to Fox 10 News.
The victims were part of the Prescott Granite Mountain Hot Shots crew.
The wildfire is believed to have been sparked by a lightning strike on Saturday night.
The Yarnell Hill Fire, located about 35 miles southwest of Prescott, has burned approximately 1,300 acres and forced the evacuation of 50 homes.
The fire began on Friday and has not yet destroyed any structures, but firefighters worked throughout the weekend to push the blaze away from residential areas, hoping to prevent it from threatening homes.
A growing fire in Yarnell forced the evacuation of around 600 residents.
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 Friday and picked up momentum as the area experienced high temperatures, low humidity and windy conditions. It has forced the evacuation of residents in the Peeples Valley area and in the town of Yarnell. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, David Kadlubowski)
A gallery with several images is available here.
Visit the USDA Forest Service website for more information on the Prescott Granite Mountain Hotshots.
Welcome to the Prescott Hotshot Crew Web Page!
Since its establishment in 1973 when it first received Type I status, the crew has evolved significantly in terms of equipment, technology, and training. Despite these changes, the core mission of a Hotshot remains the same: to be elite, professional, and highly skilled wildland firefighters.
History
- The Prescott Hotshots originated in 1972 as a regular crew (Type II), led by George Pittman with a team of Prescott College students.
- In 1973, Durk Lokes took over and secured Type I status for the crew in July of that year.
- Mark Zumwalt led the crew in 1975, introducing new technology and a more interregional structure.
- In 1977, the crew expanded to 30 members, divided into three sections of ten each.
- Glenn Dundas became leader in 1978, establishing the physical standards still used today.
- Tom Tobin took command in 1985, introducing a more diverse workforce and new transportation methods.
- Tony Sciacca assumed leadership in 1988, and the crew relocated to the newly built Prescott Fire Center in 1991.
- Curtis Heaton led the crew from 1999 to 2001, later becoming a Wildland Urban Interface Specialist.
- Jeff Andrews became superintendent in 2002 and now serves as the Deputy Fire Staff Officer for the Prescott National Forest.
- Darin Fisher has led the crew since 2005 and continues to do so today.
Undated portrait of the Prescott Granite Mountain Hotshots
The Granite Mountain Hotshots are part of the Wildland Fire Division of the Prescott Fire Department.
A feature article from cronkitenews.com last year about this crew can be found here.
As the flames approach, the crew members drop to the ground, forming a tight circle with their feet pointing toward the fire. This position helps protect their torsos from the intense heat. They secure the edges of their emergency shelters to keep out smoke and heat, and they keep their faces close to the ground to breathe cooler air that won’t damage their lungs.
There’s nothing left to do but wait.
Members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, one of 112 Interagency Hotshot Crews across the country, have never had to use shelters during a wildfire. But working in remote areas to get ahead of dangerous fire zones means knowing how to deploy them is essential for survival.
Training is crucial, especially for the four rookies on the 22-member team.
“If we’re not actually doing it, we’re thinking and planning about it,†said Eric Marsh, superintendent of the Granite Mountain Hotshots.
“When we get out there, it’s a completely different ballgame,†said Daniel McCarty, another squad leader. “It’s the real deal. We have to look out for each other.â€
The crew, one of 13 hotshot teams in Arizona, has eight full-time members. The rest work from April until September.
Being on a hotshot crew means being on call throughout fire season, ready to respond at a moment’s notice.
Fire duty can mean staying in the forest rather than returning to base camp for the night. Members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots sometimes spend up to two weeks in the wilderness, receiving supplies by helicopter.
Last year, the Granite Mountain Hotshots fought some of the largest fires in Arizona — Wallow, Horseshoe Two, and Monument — as well as blazes in states such as Colorado, New Mexico, and Minnesota.
Operating in the wilderness with limited support, training is a way of life. On a recent weekday, members practiced setting up fire shelters and cutting fire lines.
It’s better to make mistakes in training, where they can be corrected, than in a real fire.
“In any other job you don’t have to worry about your life day in and day out,†said McCarty, the squad leader. “But in this job, you have to watch your buddy too.â€
Full-transfer Tamper Proof Carton Tapes
Full-Transfer Tamper Proof Carton Tapes,Security Void Sealing Tape,Carton Sealing Void Tape,Tamper Evident Void Packing Tape
SHENZHEN SENING PACKING MATERIAL CO.,LTD , https://www.seningpacking.com