Yarnell, AZ – The bodies of 19 members of an elite firefighting crew killed after being overrun by an Arizona wildfire have been retrieved from the mountain where they died.
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Prescott Fire Chief Dan Fraijo now says all 19 were from the Prescott-based Granite Mountain Hotshots. Authorities earlier said one of the men wasn’t a crew member.
One man who belonged to the 20-person team survived because he was moving the crew’s truck.
The crew was found late Sunday afternoon with their emergency fire shelters deployed. They’d been battling a blaze moving toward Yarnell, a small town about 85 miles northwest of Phoenix.
The bodies were retrieved Monday near the town.
The fire made it into Yarnell and destroyed an unknown number of homes and businesses. It has burned more than 13 square miles.
How unbelievably sad–my heart goes out to all the families who are mourning these men and to all the townspeople who not only lost their properties but their heroes as well. Condolences to the fire departments everywhere as, I am sure, they all share in this pain. My heart also goes out to the lone survivor who will have the unbelievable task of dealing with this pain. Rest in peace
A monumental tragedy.
19 of the bravest men have perished.
They were no different than soldiers facing a fierce relentless enemy.
The only consolation is that they died heroically and their families can remember them proudly.
may Hashem comfort their families. what a terrible tragedy.