hot shots firefighters killed in california statistics

Not since September 11, 2001, had the nation lost so many firefighters in one day. The officials who spent more than three months compiling the 116-page report personally delivered it to the families of the hotshot team before releasing it to the media and the public Saturday.

What we now know, from the report, is that the hotshot crew was on top of a ridge and making its way to a designated safety zone when the winds changed erratically again, causing the fire to split and accelerate dramatically, trapping all 19. Opinion: When heroes face down fire – and fate The team then had about a 45-minute hike into the anchor point, which is the spot where they began their efforts.Īccording to the report, the hotshot team received several weather reports from the National Weather Service during the day the reports warned of approaching storms and changing wind speeds and directions. The day started with some radios not being programmed with the correct fire tones, which the firefighters were able to work around, officials said. The hotshot team was deployed the morning of June 30. The next morning, the fire had grown to several hundred acres, was moving toward the town of Yarnell.įire retardant was dropped on the area and some firefighters were dispatched, according to the report. Due to the dangerous terrain and the small amount of fire seen at that point, officials said the decision was made not to put fire personnel in the area at that time. The Yarnell Hill fire was discovered on the evening of June 28. Lookout warned team before fire killed 19

“We have no indication that Operations or anyone else asked the Granite Mountain IHC to move to a new location but we assume they decided this on their own, believing they could reengage and help defend Yarnell,” officials said in the report. The communications issues throughout the day resulted in confusion about the hotshot crew’s intentions, movements and location, officials said.Įarlier in the day, the crew had been in one area, but later moved from that point, and officials said they may never know why. The report also detailed that during a critical part of the day, there was a 30-minute communication gap between the hotshot team and the command center.

Hot shots firefighters killed in california statistics