BREAKING: Deadliest Wildfire in Modern US History Kills 19 Firefighters in Arizona

Fire Safe San Mateo County expresses condolences to the families of the 19 firefighters who died in Yarnell, Arizona yesterday, and to the extended community of wildland firefighters in the United States. The Prescott (Arizona) Fire Department confirms that 19 firefighters who were members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots died when they were overrun by fire while fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire June 30, 2013 near Prescott.

Arizona Department of Forestry spokesman Art Morrison said the firefighters were caught by the fire near the central town of Yarnell located about 85 miles northwest of Phoenix and 35 miles from Prescott.

Morrison said the firefighters were forced to deploy their fire shelters, tent-like, aluminized structures designed to shield firefighters from flames and heat as a last resort when escape is impossible.

Prescott Fire Chief Dan Fraijo said the entire Granite Mountain Hostshot crew had been killed. The unit was established in 2002 and had worked other wildfires in recent weeks in New Mexico and Arizona.

This is the deadliest wildfire incident for firefighters in modern American history. Information on the deadliest incidents in the U.S. resulting in the deaths of 8 or more firefighters is available form the NFPA.

More information is available from the Arizona Daily Star, here...