Deadly Wildfire

The Yarnell Hill Fire was ignited by lightning on Thursday, June 28. On Sunday June 30, nineteen firefighters from the Prescott Fire Department, based in Prescott, Arizona, were killed when a windblown wildfire trapped them. Fourteen of the firefighters were in their 20s. Initial reports indicated that one of the firefighters was not a member of the hotshot crew, but Prescott Fire Chief Dan Fraijo later confirmed that all 19 were from the Prescott Fire Department The lone survivor was reported to have been moving the crew vehicle at the time of the burn-over; 22 other people were injured.

The deaths of the 19 firefighters are the largest loss of firefighters from a wildfire since 1933, and the sixth largest loss of firefighters in the United States overall. It is also the deadliest single wildfire event in the United States in the 21st century.

Around 5:30 p.m. MDT (23:30 UTC) on June 28, 2013, lightning ignited a wildfire near Yarnell, Arizona, a town of approximately 700 residents about 80 miles northwest of Phoenix.^[7] Strong winds in the area, reaching more than 22 mph (35 km/h), quickly whipped up the flames and pushed it out of control on June 30, growing from 300 acres (120 ha) to over 2,000 acres (810 ha) that day.^[8] A long-term drought plaguing the area also contributed to the fire's rapid spread and erratic behavior, as did hot temperatures of 101 °F (38 °C). As of June 30, at least 2,000 acres (810 ha) were burned and the fire was completely uncontrolled.^[8]As of July 1, 2013, half of Yarnell, about 200 to 250 homes, has been destroyed and the fire has grown to over 8,300 acres (3,360 ha). The nearby community of Peeples Valley was evacuated, though no structures have been destroyed at last report.^[8] The fire was still completely uncontrolled, with more than 400 firefighters on the line.^[9]

At least 600 people were put under mandatory evacuation orders. An evacuation shelter was set up at Yavapai College in Prescott, with members of the Red Cross providing cots and blankets for overnight stays. Meals and medical assistance were also provided to residents. A second evacuation shelter was set up at Wickenburg High School in nearby Wickenburg. The two shelters are serving individuals, families and small animals.

Resources on June 30 included 16 engines, eight water tenders, two crash/rescue vehicles, two structure protection vehicles, one dozer, one hotshot crew (with another four on order), seven type 2 hand-crews, a camp crew, and four type 2 hand crews on order. One Very Large Airtanker (VLAT) and an air attack unit were also on order.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, it was the greatest loss of life for firefighters in a wildfire since 1933, and it was also the greatest loss of firefighters in the United States since the September 11 attacks. As of July 1, 2013, there were approximately 20 injuries, none of them involving residents of Yarnell.

Street Story by John Atkins, Fire Chief, Prescott, Arizona

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