Photo Credit: Cece N Mando Aguirre
By Fox News 10. Prescott Fire Department confirmed 19 firefighters have died while battling the Yarnell Hill Fire on Sunday night. They’re part of the Prescott Granite Mountain Hotshots.
The firefighters reportedly got near the front lines of the fire and somehow the fire changed direction and they became caught up in it.
We’re told they tried to get under their protective covers, but didn’t make it.
The wildfire was likely caused by a lightning strike Saturday night.
The Yarnell Hill Fire, about 35 miles southwest of Prescott, has burned about 2,000 acres and forced the evacuation of 50 homes. Read more from this story HERE.
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19 firefighters dead in Yarnell Hill Fire
By Jackee Coe and Laurie Merrill. Arizona forestry officials confirmed Sunday night that 19 firefighters have died in the Yarnell Hill Fire that has ripped through half of the town, sent residents to Prescott for safety and given the state its worst wildfire firefighter tragedy.
“It’s a dark day,” said Mike Reichling, Arizona State Forestry Division spokesman.
Reichling said the 19 firefighters were found in an area that also had 19 fire shelters deployed. Some of the firefighters were inside a shelter, which is typically used as a last resort to withstand the fire as it blows over. Some of the crew members were found outside the shelters.
Officials said 18 of the dead were members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots team. It’s unknown which fire crew the 19th firefighter belonged to. The firefighters are part of a team that is typically sent in first to help cut off the fire, Reichling said.
“They were up there doing what they normally do,” he said. Read more from this story HERE.
