19 FF dead in Arizona wildfire flashover
Arizona State 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 it’s biggest ever 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 those found were inside a shelter. Some were not.
Most FFs killed were members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, members of the Town of Prescott fire department. One Hotshot member survived, the only one left of the team of 20, who was not at that location when the fire flashed over.
These deaths were the result of a rapid wind shift, one of the most unpredictable, uncontrollable and dangerous aspects of wildfire fighting. Deploying their fire shelters, basically foil tents that give a chance of survival rate of 50% or less, is an absolute worst case tactic, used when they know they have no other chance of escape.
Ongoing coverage of Yarnell Hill Fire
Enkhyl, for fucksake if you're out there in this fire, let someone know if you're alive...
“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 those found were inside a shelter. Some were not.
Most FFs killed were members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, members of the Town of Prescott fire department. One Hotshot member survived, the only one left of the team of 20, who was not at that location when the fire flashed over.
These deaths were the result of a rapid wind shift, one of the most unpredictable, uncontrollable and dangerous aspects of wildfire fighting. Deploying their fire shelters, basically foil tents that give a chance of survival rate of 50% or less, is an absolute worst case tactic, used when they know they have no other chance of escape.
Ongoing coverage of Yarnell Hill Fire
Enkhyl, for fucksake if you're out there in this fire, let someone know if you're alive...