A year ago today, a series of events was set in motion that would directly change the lives of 20 families, and indirectly affect the lives of countless people all over the world. When the sun came up on June 29, 2013 over the small community of Yarnell, there was a fire burning on the hill side. Still relatively small, the fire was started the previous night by a lightning strike. As the day progressed, a few resources were committed to fight the fire, and as the day progressed the fire slowly grew. More resources were being requested. Not too far away, 20 men were waking up with their loved ones, enjoying a morning. They had recently returned from another fire in the Prescott area where they were credited with saving important areas. Eventually the order came, and the Granite Mountain Hotshots were deployed and responded to Yarnell. I am sure as they kissed and hugged goodbye, no one had an inclination of what the next 24 hours would bring. Roughly 24 hours from now, it will be exactly 1 year from the time a set of events would be set in motion, that would leave 19 men dead, one surviving member barely escaping death himself, and the entire community dumbfounded and shocked that this could happen. Over the next 24 hours, what started as a small fire that seemed to be able to be easily contained, grew into a monster, taking on a life of its own, as it grew exponentially, being fed by winds. As it set sight for the Peeples Valley area, multiple teams of hot shots did everything they could to save what was savable. Then, something happened. The winds changed, and pushed the fire backwards, back towards Yarnell. We probably will never know exactly what happened in the final moments, why they moved, what their thoughts were, but in the end, one member escaped with his life, thanks only to a truck being able to evacuate him, and 19 others fought a valiant effort to save their own lives, but the fire was too hot, too fast, and they had nowhere to go. 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots perished in an canyon, overlooking Yarnell, Arizona. The news traveled far, wide, and ever so quickly. Those of us in Public Safety are a tight network. Texts and phone calls spread, trying to find out news, hoping it was just a mis-communication. But this day, sadly, the news was all too real. Everyone would have questions, theories, and ideas, but we will never know it all. Even if we did know, it wouldnt change anything. I stood proudly with my Brothers and Sisters from Tonopah and many other departments along the Carefree Highway, as 19 white hearses passed by solomly. You could hear a pin drop as they were saluted with honors by each member, and there were so many members of the public there, it made it really hit home. They were heroes, and they were being honored as they should. A few days later, we would go to Peeples Valley to cover their station, while they mourned and celebrated these 19 lives. Many of the members of Peeples Valley fought alongside these guys on other fires. We covered their station for what seemed like just a short time, but I can say that it was one of the most cherished things I have ever done. The appreciation from the community was payment enough. We never asked for anything in return. It was just something we all wanted to do. And I hope, that its never necessary again. A few months ago, I had the privilege to sit and talk with Brendan for a few hours. We all told him, he always will have friends here in the valley, and dont hesitate to call. So now here it is, one year later. A big celebration is planned, Facebook is alive with comments, people remembering the 20 members, their families and the communities that were affected. This one little fire, turned into something that brought together countless people. It united the damaged communities. Union Brothers from all over the world came to pay their respects. Tomorrow, they will be honored on the first anniversary of their ultimate sacrifice. My thoughts are with the families, and with our Prescott area brothers today. You are in all of our thoughts. Its amazing how the community can come together when times like these happen. Its amazing to see. But what I wanted to convey today, is lets not just remember them on the day that they fell, but lets make damn sure that they are never forgotten, and make sure that some small shred of good comes from this. Safer procedures, better equipment, better tactics, or whatever it may be, everyone remember those 19 guys who stared danger in the face and still showed up to make a difference. Every day is a reminder they sacrificed, so make every day a tribute to them. Rest in Peace Brothers, I assure you, you will never be forgotten in these circles. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarnell_Hill_Fire
Posted on: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 20:32:49 +0000
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