Sedona AZ (June 30, 2013) – In Memory of Prescott Fire Fighters lost 6/30/2013 fighting the Yarnell wildfire, the deadliest in U.S. history involving firefighters in the U.S. for at least 30 years, when the Granite Mountain Hot Shots (pictured below in photo taken after an Oregon fire) were overtaken by the Arizona fire.
It is being reported by authorities on the scene that 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots crew from Prescott, Arizona, were killed today.
U. S. Forestry spokesman Art Morrison advised the firefighters were caught by the fire this afternoon near the town of Yarnell. It is known that the firefighters were forced to deploy fire shelters but the fire was too hot for the shelters to be effective.
Over 200 firefighters are on the scene fighting the fire. It is estimated that 200 homes have been lost but no civilian deaths are reported.
The fire started after a lightning strike on Friday and spread to 2,000 acres on Sunday amid triple-digit temperatures, low humidity and windy conditions.
Prescott Fire Chief Dan Fraijo said of the 19 dead firefighters, “We grieve for the family. We grieve for the department. We grieve for the city. We’re devastated. We just lost 19 of the finest people you’ll ever meet.”
The firefighters are part of the City of Prescott’s fire department and are considered an elite team of highly trained professionals. They recently fought fires in New Mexico and Arizona.
We will update you as facts become available.
“When a tragedy like this strikes, all we can do is offer our eternal gratitude to the fallen, and prayers for the families and friends left behind. God bless them all.” – Governor Jan Brewer
The City of Prescott has released the names of the 19 victims in the Yarnell Hill fire. All were members of the elite Granite Mountain Hotshots pictured above:
Those who lost their lives are:
• Ashcraft, Andrew – Age: 29
• Caldwell, Robert – Age: 23
• Carter, Travis – Age: 31
• Deford, Dustin – Age: 24
• MacKenzie, Christopher – Age: 30
• Marsh, Eric – Age: 43
• McKee, Grant – Age: 21
• Misner, Sean – Age: 26
• Norris, Scott – Age: 28
• Parker, Wade – Age: 22
• Percin, John – Age: 24
• Rose, Anthony – Age: 23
• Steed, Jesse – Age: 36
• Thurston, Joe – Age: 32
• Turbyfill, Travis – Age: 27
• Warneke, William – Age: 25
• Whitted, Clayton – Age: 28
• Woyjeck, Kevin – Age: 21
• Zuppiger, Garret – Age: 27
The Prescott Fire Department chose not to release the name of the lone Granite Mountain Hotshot who survived the fire. Officials said it might be a few days before his name is released.
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Firefighters are rare and precious in their service to humanity and the earth… They have a special sensitivity and compassion and yet are mightily courageous and strong. They are fierce warriors for love and beauty. Such a tremendous loss for those they protect, and the sorrow their families; both at home and at work are suffering is unfathomable. We are so, so sad for all who knew these benevolent beings.
God Bless these eighteen young men and one young woman who fought the Doce fire at Granite Mountain as it barreled down Mint Creek towards my sister’s ranch. They made it possible for her to evacuate 40 horses and another 60 horses from neighboring ranches. They were heroes then, heroes yesterday and since the day they started in the service. It appears they had just been reassigned from north of Granite Mountain to Yarnell yesterday. It’s hard to appreciate what these forest firefighters do everyday that most of us never know about.
Jana Lea via Sedona Times Just heard none were over 22 years old….
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Catherine Farrell Thoghts are with their families and the town that lost these brave firefighters…….
8 hours ago · Like
Melody Havner Allen I am just stunned. Sending prayers for everyone touched by this tragedy.
5 hours ago via mobile · Like
Marna Courson Unbelievable.
5 hours ago · Like
We have 10 rooms available complimentary for Yarnell evacuees for 2 nights. Please call us at 928.778.9434 or 1.800.322.1927 to make arrangements!
Nancy Walker McElveen, Edmond, Oklahoma writes “sending prayers”; Sharon Kermes, Miami Florida writes “God help their families and friends to be comforted by the power of the Holy Spirit in His time. This is my prayer.”; Kitty Romero, Bernalillo, New Mexico writes “this is horrible…….god bless all of you….and prayers sent your way……from all of us in new mexico.”; Joe Groves, Choctaw Oklahoma writes “RIP”; Valerie Borrego and Linda Hersey from Sedona AZ and so many others that we will not attempt to list them all…
Seven adults and two children were staying at a shelter set up for people who were evacuated, the Red Cross said. There is room for anyone needing help or shelter.
Oh Man, So Sad. Yes , Gave their lives in protecting others. Tragic loss
Noon – Monday, July 1, 2013 – Due to the Yarnell Fire in Yavapai County, the Yarnell Justice Court is closed.
Urgent matters normally handled by this court are being handled by the Prescott Justice Court, located at 120 South Cortez, Room 103, Prescott, Arizona. (928) 771-3300.
The court will continue to provide updates as they become available.
Statement from Judge David Mackey, Presiding Judge for Superior Court in Yavapai County: “On behalf of the entire court community in Yavapai County, our deepest condolences go out to the families and loved ones of those who have lost their life in the Yarnell Wildfire. The Yarnell Justice Court has accounted for its entire staff, many of whom are residents of the community, and we are grateful that they are safe. The condition of the Yarnell Justice Court is unknown at this time. Information about cases pending in this court will be forthcoming. I have spoken with county leaders and the court system stands by to support our neighbors in need. As a long-time Prescott resident, I am devastated by this tragedy and ask that you keep our community in your thoughts and prayers.”
For information regarding the courts in Yavapai County, visit http://courts.yavapai.us
The tragedy all but wiped out the 20-member Granite Mountain Hotshots, a unit based in Prescott, Prescott Fire Chief Dan Fraijo said as the last of the bodies were retrieved from the mountain.
Only one member survived, and that was because he was moving the unit’s truck at the time, authorities said.
The U.S. has 110 Hotshot crews, according to the U.S. Forest Service website. They typically have about 20 members each.
Hotshot crews go through specialized training and are sent in to battle the nation’s fiercest wildfires. Sometimes they hike for miles into the wilderness with heavy gear to build lines of protection between people and fires.
Four hundred firefighters and support personnel were assigned to the wildfire as of Monday afternoon. They included members of 18 Hotshot crews from around the country. The number of Hotshot crews assigned to the fire is expected to at least double.
Arizona is in the midst of a historic drought that has left large parts of the state highly flammable.
The City of Prescott has released the names of the 19 victims in the Yarnell Hill fire. All were members of the elite Granite Mountain Hotshots.
Those who lost their lives are:
• Ashcraft, Andrew – Age: 29
• Caldwell, Robert – Age: 23
• Carter, Travis – Age: 31
• Deford, Dustin – Age: 24
• MacKenzie, Christopher – Age: 30
• Marsh, Eric – Age: 43
• McKee, Grant – Age: 21
• Misner, Sean – Age: 26
• Norris, Scott – Age: 28
• Parker, Wade – Age: 22
• Percin, John – Age: 24
• Rose, Anthony – Age: 23
• Steed, Jesse – Age: 36
• Thurston, Joe – Age: 32
• Turbyfill, Travis – Age: 27
• Warneke, William – Age: 25
• Whitted, Clayton – Age: 28
• Woyjeck, Kevin – Age: 21
• Zuppiger, Garret – Age: 27
The Prescott Fire Department chose not to release the name of the lone Granite Mountain Hotshot who survived the fire. Officials said it might be a few days before his name is released.
City of Sedona Mayor Rob Adams sent the following statement to the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors and City of Prescott Mayor Marlin Kuykendall regarding the Yarnell fire tragedy:
“The citizens of Sedona send our sincerest sympathy for the tragic loss of the Prescott firefighters and the property in Yarnell that you have experienced. This tragedy is unimaginable.
We offer our prayers and unwavering support during your time of grief. If there is anything that the City of Sedona can do to help, we stand ready to immediately respond.
Our flags are flying at half-mast in honor of the brave men that lost their lives. We will have a moment of silence in remembrance. We will carry you in our hearts and prayers. Blessings to all of you.”
Renton K-9 Officer Cassidy Steed, originally from Arizona, who Monday issued a statement regarding the death of his brother, 36-year-old Jesse Steed:
It is with great sadness that I learned of my brother Jesse’s death yesterday. He was the captain of the Granite Mountain Hot Shot Fire Fighters Team for the last two years and was tragically lost during the Yarnell Hill wildfires in Arizona.
36 year-old Jesse Steed served in the Marine Corps from 1996-2000, and then became a firefighter for Prescott, Arizona that year. He joined the local Hot Shot crew around 2002 and then came on with the Granite Mountain Hot Shots around 03-04 when they were established. He was the most senior member of their team in both age and skill.
Jesse has always put his life on the line for people who he knew he would never meet. He sacrificed time with his family and his own personal interests. Jesse loved his job very much as his family supported him with every sacrifice he made for it. He is survived by his wife Desiree and two children, Caden (4) and Cambria (3), his sister Taunya Steed, brother Levi Federwisch and myself Cassidy Steed. Our mother, Claudia Steed was taken from us 25 years ago and we find some comfort knowing that he is resting with her now.
All of Jesse’s crew also gave the ultimate sacrifice. Now there are 19 families who are as grief-stricken and numb from their recent loss as I am. No amount of money will ever replace that brother, father, husband, loved one or friend. As I’m driving down to Arizona I am feeling a complete sense of helplessness, so I enlisted a coworker and friend, Tracie Jarratt, to set up a fund to split equally amongst the 19 families. The average age of the men who were lost is only 22 years old. I can only hope we can make even the smallest difference for those spouses and young children who are now left to face this.
You can help donate to the families by going to gofundme.com/3gan7g. The link will take you directly to the donation site for the fallen officers. Or you can access it from just using gofundme.com and searching “RIP 19 Hotshots.”
Respectfully,
Cassidy Steed
Maj Mobil of Flagstaff AZ shared this article on Facebook.
thought people should know hundreds of people maybe more than a thousand turned out today at Prescott Embry Riddle (Aeronautical University) for the memorial service to honor our firefighters killed in the fire
damn this is sad
Close to our headquarters locally we lost a Seal Beach Hero Kevin Woyjeck —We will NEVER FORGET him and all of the 19 Prescott Granite Mountain Hotshots—-who died while battling the Yarnell Hill fire on 30 June 2013. Many our friends and family knew this young man and our prayers go out to his father LA County Fire Cpt. Joe Woyjeck and their entire family…..
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Cruz P Chavez Sr.
Family,Friends…Condolences to the Families of the Hero’s that lost their lives and the many Families that lost their homes to The Yarnell Hill Fire..Prayers that no more lives will be lost..Young lives lost too early..This Saturday at the Pay it Forward Produce Stand we will have bins set up for Clothes,Household Goods,Toiletries,Blankets,Towels,Dog food, Cat food and anything else that you can think of that will help our neighbors on the other side of the mountain…I’m ASKING our Verde Valley Community to come together and support the families of THE GRANITE MOUNTAIN HOTSHOTS and our Prescott/Yarnell area families..They will be delivered on Monday morning at 7 AM ..Lets keep all those that have been affected by this tragedy in your thoughts and prayers….Thank you
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In Memory of Prescott Firefighters Lost 6/30/2013
I want to take a moment and express my deepest sympathy to our Heroes Families. We at Heroes Memorial Foundation understand that only a person that has suffered as you all have can truly understand your feelings and emotions during this time. That is why we have a Survivor on our staff, Alisa Robbins is our Director of Survivor Support and is willing to speak to any of you and help in any way possible. Alisa joined Heroes Memorial Foundation after we created a memorial page for her husband, In Memory of Master Deputy Sheriff Joseph “Shane” Robbins EOW 4/26/13. Alisa is a great and strong person that wants to help others in their time of need. If you would like to speak to her, visit our contact page on our website. You may also contact Alisa through the message button this page or our Heroes Memorial Foundation page Re: Survivor Support.
As you can see, this page has reached over 325K likes in just a few days. We are working hard to get all emails and messages answered with accurate information as quickly as possible. Here are some answers to frequent questions:
The T-Shirt with the Heroes Memorial Foundation Logo, do all proceeds go to Wildland Firefighter Foundation to benefit the families? Yes, this was setup with Teespring by us and the check will go directly to Wildland Firefighter Foundation to benefit the families, Heroes Memorial Foundation is not receiving or managing the money from the sale of these shirts.
Are there going to be decals or stickers made? We are working towards having a these made locally and will post information about them later today.
There are multiple charities taking money for the families or selling items, which one do I donate to? If the link is posted by this page, then we have confirmed the validity of that charity. Understand that there may be more charities that have not contacted us but are valid charities. We post information after we receive and verify it as best as possible.
Funeral services? At this time we have been in contact with Prescott Fire Dept. and final arrangements have not been made, we will post that information once we receive it.
Heroes Memorial Foundation, Inc. is committed to “Honoring our Heroes better” and we hope that our Heroes Families find comfort and peace in this online memorial for their Hero. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all, please know we are here to help in anyway we can. You can contact Bill Benson our Chief Operating Officer, through our website at http://www.HeroesMemorial.org with any questions or information you have.
With Sympathy,
J.H. “Jon” Folbrecht
President & CEO
Heroes Memorial Foundation, Inc.
Via @SedonaTimes Facebook
http://www.today.com/news/ariz-firefighters-widow-our-kids-will-remember-them-heroes-6C10512259
From wife, Juliann: Andrew was the father of four children, all under the age of 6. He texted Juliann and sent photos during the fira break…read the article for information and to see photos use link above.
Liked this article on Facebook.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHFxvEO0Qs8
There must have been close to 5,000 people at the vigil last night showing tribute to our fallen firefighters and lost homes. It was an absolutely beautiful and heartwarming evening. The streets were also lined up and No One was getting in to protest. Our little town is a proud (and gun toting town) and we are small but Mighty!
Firefighters Make Progress on Yarnell Hill Fire – Fire Facts
Fire Start Date: June 28, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. Location: West of State 89 between Yarnell and Peeples Valley
Size: Estimated at 8,400 acres Percent Contained: 8 percent containment
Cause: Lightning Personnel: 596 (includes 8 crews and 44 engines)
Aircraft: Nine helicopters are assigned to the incident and air tankers are available to support firefighters.
Evacuations: Residents of Peeples Valley and Yarnell, evacuated by the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday, remain out of their homes.
The Yarnell Fire Department and Yavapai County are assessing homes and structures around Glen Ilah and Yarnell. Red Cross shelters are open at Yavapai Community College in Prescott at 928-717-8210 and at the Wickenburg High School in Wickenburg at 480-213-0706.
People and small animals are welcome at both shelters while large livestock can be taken to Hidden Springs Ranch on Highway 89.
Meetings: There will be a community meeting today in Wickenburg at 11:00 a.m. at the Wickenburg High School.
Fire Closures: State Highway 89 remains closed between Date Creek Road south of Yarnell and at mile marker 283 north of Peeples Valley.
The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office has three different road blocks: the junctions of Highway 89 and Hays Ranch Road; Hays Ranch Road and Sickles Ranch Road; and at Buckhorn and Frontier Road.
Fire Conditions and Weather: Temperatures will be in the low 90s today, humidity 18-21 percent, and predicted winds out of the west/southwest at 4 to 6 miles per hour, gusting up to 12 miles per hour.
If afternoon thunderstorms develop in the area of the fire, winds could increase dramatically and more erratic fire behavior will likely occur.
Today, firefighters will continue work on the eastern flank with a goal of connecting the contained areas on the northeast and southeast corners between Yarnell and Peeples Valley. On the northern portion, hot shot crews will continue to build line towards a ridge above Peeples Valley. More scouting will take place along the western flank and contingency plans will continue to be refined in case the fire becomes active again.
Firefighters will also support initial attack in the area as needed.
Creeping and smoldering are expected to continue around the structures, though sometimes not showing until the afternoon, and some areas around structures are still holding enough heat to be a concern. A plan is being developed to restore utilities and infrastructure to the affected communities.
Across the nation today, firefighters on all incidents will take a brief operational pause to honor the fallen and reflect on the daily risks of fighting fire.
Yavapai College to be Closed July 9 in Memory of Hotshots – Broadcast of Hotshots Memorial to be Shown Live at PAC
All Yavapai College campuses will be closed on Tuesday, July 9 out of respect for the 19 fallen Granite Mountain Hotshots team members and in conjunction with Tuesday’s memorial gathering at Tim’s Toyota Center.
“Many of our fallen fire fighters were our students, and many of us were affected personally by their loss,” Dr. Penny Wills, YC president, noted in an e-mail to the college community.
The YC Performing Arts Center will be open for community members to view the free live broadcast of the memorial gathering, which is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. PAC doors open at 10 a.m., and seating will be on a first-come basis. The PAC is located on the Prescott campus at 1100 E. Sheldon St.
$590,000 already received for two funds to help those affected by the Yarnell Hill Fire!
Including matching funds, more than $590,000 has been contributed to the Yarnell Disaster Relief Fund and the Yarnell Memorial Scholarship Endowment by individuals, donor funds of the Yavapai County Community Foundation and the Arizona Community Foundation, private foundations, and businesses.
In just three days, gifts to the Yarnell Disaster Relief Fund surpassed the $150,000 dollar-for-dollar match and continue to pour in. Contributions from the YCCF donor advised funds established by the Kieckhefer Family to honor Bob and Dudie Kieckhefer were added to the match offered by ACF, initiating the groundswell of support for the Yarnell Disaster Relief Fund. Matching funds were contributed by YCCF, ACF, and generous community partners including the Wellik Foundation and the Chauncey Foundation.
Consistent with the Community Foundation’s focus on sustainable solutions, the Yarnell Disaster Relief Fund will aid in the post-fire recovery and community rebuilding efforts. This fund is still accepting gifts and 100% of contributions will be used to serve needs in Yarnell. Contributors to this fund include Hickey Family Foundation, JPMorgan Chase, Cox Communications and BMO Harris Bank.
A second fund was established with a $100,000 lead gift from Helios Education Foundation. The Yarnell Memorial Scholarship Endowment will provide scholarships for the children of the Granite Mountain Hotshots and other fallen firefighters. The endowment will support the post-secondary educational needs of the children, not just tuition, and scholarships will not be limited to public educational institutions located in Arizona.
The goal is to build the fund to at least $1 million, which will continue to grow—thanks to the power of endowment—over the next 12 to 16 years, until the children are of age to apply for college scholarships.
The United Phoenix Fire Fighters Association and Prescott Fire Fighter’s Charities announced that a new fund has been established to benefit the families of a fallen Prescott fire crew. Donations are being accepted at all Chase Bank locations. The account number is 987218757. Donors who have questions are asked to contact the UPFFA office at (602) 255-1500. A release from the two groups said 100 percent of the donations will go to the families of the Prescott-based fire crew who were killed while fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire. – See more at: http://ktar.com/287/1645905/Phoenix-firefighters-establish-fund-benefitting-Prescott-fire-crew#sthash.uBaN8LK6.dpuf
KMLE Country Music 107.9 Phoenix radio releases the amount raised during the #CountryCaresConcert…check made out to the Families of THE 19 is… drumroll please … $442,252.27 ! A big thanks goes to Dierks Bentley, a local Scottsdale boy, and Band Perry!
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/07/24/officer-killed-in-fall-while-trying-to-rescue-hiker-from-mt-charleston/?intcmp=obnetwork
Granite Mountain Hotshot Benefit Banquet is scheduled for Thursday, August 29, 2013 from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM (MST) Prescott Valley, AZ
Join us at the Granite Mountain Hotshot Benefit Banquet on Aug. 29th at Tim’s Toyota Center to raise money in support of the families of the Yarnell 19 Firefighters lost so tragically in the line of duty.
Many organizations such as the Arizona Elk Society, the Mule Deer Foundation, the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Arizona Deer Association and many more are proud to be part of this event.
Tickets are $50 a person or you can reserve a table for 8 people for $500.
There will be raffles, silent auction items and live auctions for fishing and hunting trips, gear, art and more.
Order tickets via Eventbrite:
http://www.eventbrite.com/event/7651374467/efbevent
More information: http://yarnell19banquet.com/
The City of Prescott is giving Andrew Ashcraft’s widow and children the run around regarding full time benefits he was entitled to as a full time employee, CBS news -National – did a report and found paperwork that showed he was a full time salaried employee. I think the reason they aren’t giving his family the benefits is because he left behind 4 children. Shame on you City of Prescott.
Do what you said you would for those who died that day protecting not only Yarnell but Prescott.
We regret to inform you of the line-of-duty loss of USFS Engine Capt. Token Adams, a wildland firefighter in the Jemez Ranger District, NM who disappeared while checking smoke Aug. 30th. His body was discovered earlier today. Capt. Adams is a Navy veteran and a former member of the Kings River Hotshots in California. He is survived by an expecting wife. Funeral arrangements for Adams are pending.
Remembering Capt. Token Adams USFS Last Alarm 8/30/13
US Forest Service Wildland Firefighter Engine Captain Token Adams disappeared on Aug. 30, 2013 in the Santa Fe National Forest. Search and Rescue members located Capt. Adams at 11:45 9/6/2013 after a fatal ATV crash. http://www.HeroesMemorial.org
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U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) today issued the following statement in remembrance the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots who died battling the Yarnell Hill fire one year ago today:
“On this somber anniversary, we remember the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots who ran into – not away from – an inferno, sacrificing themselves to protect the lives and homes of their neighbors. These brave souls are personification of the guts and selflessness that our state and our nation are built on; and they remain exemplars of all that is good, and brave, and decent in men. They are today, as always, in the thoughts and prayers of the citizens of Arizona.” Dated June 30, 2014.
Friends,
This week we have much to reflect on as LD 6. First we remember 19 brave souls that lost their lives protecting Yarnell. As a Legislator, I will never forget the 19 as I fight for state control of our forest so we can maintain them and stop these horrible wildfires. Please keep their family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.
One year ago yesterday, 19 courageous wildland firefighters gave their lives battling the Yarnell Hill Fire in Yavapai County, Arizona. It was a staggering loss that still pains our state and nation. The Yarnell tragedy is a grim reminder of the grave risks our firefighters take every day to protect our lives and property in Arizona and across the nation.
I hope you will keep in your thoughts and prayers the Granite Mountain Hotshots and their families and loved ones who miss them so dearly. They are American heroes that Arizona can call her own, and their sacrifice will never be forgotten.
— John McCain