Courtesy of Juliann Ashcraft, The Associated PressIn this photo shot by firefighter Andrew Ashcraft, members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots watch a growing wildfire that later swept over and killed the crew of 19 firefighters near Yarnell, Ariz., Sunday, June 30, 2013. Ashcraft texted the photo to his wife, Juliann, but died later that day battling the out-of-control blaze. The 29-year-old father of four added the message, "This is my lunch spot...too bad lunch was an MRE."
Christian Petersen, Getty ImagesNineteen crosses and American flags adorn the fence outside of Station 7 on July 3, 2013 in Prescott, Arizona. Nineteen firefighters based out of Station 7 died battling a fast-moving wildfire near Yarnell, Arizona on June 30. Station 7 has been the home of the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew since 2010.
David Kadlubowski, The Arizona Republic, via The Associated PressA wildfire burns homes in the Glenn Ilah area near Yarnell, Ariz. on Sunday, June 30, 2013. An Arizona fire chief says the wildfire that killed 19 members of his crew near the town was moving fast and fueled by hot, dry conditions. The fire started with a lightning strike on Friday and spread to 2,000 acres on Sunday amid triple-digit temperatures.
David Kadlubowski, The Arizona Republic, via The Associated PressA wildfire burns homes in Yarnell, Ariz. on Sunday, June 30, 2013. An Arizona fire chief says the wildfire that killed 19 members of his crew near the town was moving fast and fueled by hot, dry conditions. The fire started with a lightning strike on Friday and spread to 2,000 acres on Sunday amid triple-digit temperatures.
Tom Story, The Arizona Republic via APA home burns amidst the Yarnell Hill Fire in Yarnell, Ariz. on Sunday, June 30, 2013. The fire started Friday and picked up momentum as the area experienced high temperatures, low humidity and windy conditions. It has forced the evacuation of residents in the Peeples Valley area and in the town of Yarnell.
Matt York, The Associated PressPrescott Wildland Division Chief Darrell Willis touches A Granite Mountain Hot Shots crew shirt draped over a burned cactus, Tuesday, July 23, 2013 in Yarnell, Ariz. The fenced-in site is where 19 firefighters died battling an Arizona wildfire on June 30th. As the fire grew out of control, the firefighters quickly worked to clear the area of scrub and brush hoping to endure the intense heat in their emergency shelters.
Michael Chow, Pool, The Associated PressPhotos of some of the 19 fallen firefighters line the front of the stage before a memorial service at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, Ariz. on Tuesday, July 9, 2013. Prescott's Granite Mountain Hotshots were overrun by smoke and fire while battling a blaze on a ridge in Yarnell, about 80 miles northwest of Phoenix on June 30, 2013.
Michael Chow, The Arizona Republic via AP, poolPastor Ron Merrell leads a prayer during a memorial service for the 19 fallen firefighters at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, Ariz. on Tuesday, July 9, 2013. Prescott's Granite Mountain Hotshots were overrun by smoke and fire while battling a blaze on a ridge in Yarnell, about 80 miles northwest of Phoenix on June 30, 2013. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Michael Chow, Pool)
Ross D. Franklin, The Associated PressA tearful Shari Turbyfill, step mom to Travis Turbyfill who died fighting the Yarnell wildfire, listens to a panel announce their findings as the official report is released Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013, examining to explain how 19 members of an elite firefighting crew died while battling the Arizona wildfire, in Prescott, Ariz. Officials, however, said the report will not assign blame.
Christian Petersen, Getty ImagesThe Arizona Joint Fire Fighters Honor Guard stand on the field in honor of the 19 Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew firefighters who died battling a fast-moving wildfire near Yarnell, AZ before the MLB game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field on July 5, 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Laura Segall, Getty ImagesMembers of fire departments from around the country attend a memorial in honor of the 19 firefighters killed in a wildfire, at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, Arizona Tuesday July 9, 2013. The firefighters, of the Granite Mountain Hotshots crew, died battling the fast-moving blaze on June 30.
Krista Kennell, AFP/Getty ImagesJuliann Ashcraft, wife of fallen firefighter Andrew Ashcraft, cries alongside her father-in-law Tom Ashcraft outside of the Granite Mountain Hotshot fire station in Prescott, Arizona July 1, 2013. Reinforcements poured in Monday to battle a runaway wildfire which quadrupled in size overnight after killing 19 firefighters in one of the worst such incidents in US history. The Yarnell Hill fire -- which killed all but one member of a 20-strong "hotshot" team -- was the biggest loss of firefighters' lives since the Sept. 11 attacks, and the most from a US wildfire in 80 years.
Rick Scuteri, The Associated PressAn Arizona Diamondbacks fan acknowledges the Prescott Fire Department before a game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies on Friday, July 5, 2013, in Phoenix. Prescott lost 19 fire fighters during a fire in Yarnell.
Krista Kennell, AFP/Getty ImagesA makeshift memorial that includes a 9-11 hat and a t-shirt hangs on a fence outside of the Granite Mountain Hotshot Fire Station 7 in Prescott, Arizona July 1, 2013. Reinforcements poured in Monday to battle a runaway wildfire which quadrupled in size overnight after killing 19 firefighters in one of the worst such incidents in US history. The Yarnell Hill fire -- which killed all but one member of a 20-strong "hotshot" team -- was the biggest loss of firefighters' lives since the Sept. 11 attacks, and the most from a US wildfire in 80 years.
Krista Kennell, AFP/Getty ImagesNancy Alder pays her respects at the memorial for the 19 fallen Granite Mountain Hotshot firefighters outside of fire station 7 in Prescott, Arizona July 2, 2013. The Yarnell Hill fire -- which killed all but one member of a 20-strong 'hotshot' team -- was the biggest loss of firefighters' lives since the Sept. 11 attacks, and the most from a US wildfire in 80 years.
Prescott Daily Courier, Matt Hinshaw, The Associated PressBrendan McDonough, the surviving member of an elite Arizona firefighting crew that was overrun by flames, pauses during an interview with the Prescott Daily Courier newspaper in this photo made Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013, in Prescott, Ariz. McDonough says he went numb after learning the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots he considered his brothers were dead when they were overtaken by the Yarnell Hill Fire on June 30.
Christian Petersen, Getty ImagesA sign reading "Heroes" is displayed on a fence, adorned with mementos, outside of Station 7 on July 3, 2013 in Prescott, Arizona. Nineteen firefighters based out of Station 7 died battling a fast-moving wildfire near Yarnell, Arizona on June 30. Station 7 has been the home of the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew since 2010.
Courtesy of Juliann Ashcraft, The Associated Press
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In this photo shot by firefighter Andrew Ashcraft, members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots watch a growing wildfire that later swept over and killed the crew of 19 firefighters near Yarnell, Ariz., Sunday, June 30, 2013. Ashcraft texted the photo to his wife, Juliann, but died later that day battling the out-of-control blaze. The 29-year-old father of four added the message, "This is my lunch spot...too bad lunch was an MRE."
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By Glen Barber | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED:
Getting your player ready...
It began as a routine assignment for the 20 men of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. Wielding picks, axes, shovels and chainsaws, they set out to build a barrier to protect homes and people from an Arizona wildfire sparked by lightning.
Within hours, their mission ended in tragedy. Fifty mph winds set off by a powerful thunderstorm had changed direction, fanning a raging fire that raced down Yarnell Hill, cutting off the crew’s escape route and trapping the men in a canyon. Nineteen of them perished, the bodies found in portable fire shelters that were no match for the 2,000-degree heat. The death toll of professional wildland firefighters was the largest in more than a century. The only survivor was the assigned lookout who barely escaped the flames.