https://azstateparks.com/hotshots/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3829920/
Let me begin by saying, “Thank you.” I want to let these men know we appreciate them. These men put their lives on the line everyday and on June 30,2013, these 19 men lost their lives fighting a wildfire sparked by lightning on Bureau of Land Management lands near Yarnell, AZ.
THANK YOU…
*Andrew Ashcraft, 29
*Anthony Rose, 23
*Christopher MacKenzie, 30
*Clayton Whitted, 28
*Dustin Deford, 24
*Eric Marsh, 43
*Garret Zuppiger, 27
*Grant McKee, 21
*Jesse Steed, 36
*Joe Thurston, 32
*John Percin, 24
*Kevin Woyjeck, 21
*Robert Caldwell, 23
*Scott Norris, 28
*Sean Misner, 26
*Travis Carter, 31
*Travis Turbyfill, 27
*Wade Parker, 22
*William Warneke, 25
June 30,2013 these 19 men were trapped by the fast moving fire. They deployed their fire shelters when they became surrounded by the fire. Heat from the fire soared over 2,000 degrees.
The Blue Ridge Hotshots were on site too. They attempted to rescue the men, but were unable to because of the intense flames and heat from the fire. The next morning it was these men that discovered the Granite Mountain Hotshots remains.
If you visit the memorial, there is a bronze figure of a firefighter with a bench and there is a memorial board explaining the day. If you want to hike to the actual site there is about a 3 mile hike to an observation deck and another 3-4 mile hike to the actual site. Bring plenty of tissues and water.
These next images I took from the Hotshots website…
If you want to know more about the Hotshots, a movie was made based on this story. It is called “Only the Brave.”
Thank you to all our Firefighters and First Responders!