19: The True Story of the Yarnell Hill Fire

From the November issue of Outside magazine: outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/YarnellFire.html
On the morning of June 30, all 20 members of Prescott, Arizona's Granite Mountain Hotshots headed into the mountains to protect the small town of Yarnell from an advancing blaze. Later that day, every man but one was dead. Through interviews with family, colleagues, and the lone survivor, a former hotshot pieces together their final hours-and the fatal choices that will haunt firefighting forever. By Kyle Dickman
Directed by Dan Winters danwintersphoto.com
Produced by Kyle Dickman
Edited by John Aldrich

[@brandysigmon9066]

I didn't know about this incident until the movie came out. I feel that these fallen heroes need more recognition for what they did. They made the ultimate sacrifice to help others. For those who read this please take a second to be thankful for what you have and realize it could all be gone in the blink of an eye and give a moment of silence for the 19 men known as the Granite Mountain Hotshots.

[@EzErNzK]

Maybe you should write a poem about it, jeez...

[@cmd7129]

EzErNzK shut up

[@hannecoppens2945]

Me to

[@matttv3320]

@Shaylynn Daniels same my dads a fire fighter too

[@ilysebell7074]

How could you not have heard about this until the movie came out? WOW!

[@BackcountryExploringAZ]

I just came across this video. I worked in wildland fire for over 35 years. In Arizona. 10 years on now, and I can't think back on this without tears. NEVER FORGOTTEN!

[@tomentrikin2943]

R.i.p Kevin woyjeck 1 of 19 was an honor to have known you

[@persephone2706]

It must have been incredible to know any of these men... He might not walk the earth any more, but he won't be forgotten.

[@dorismoleta7762]

A sad, sad day for all of us who had a connection with any of these wonderful , brave men . Sean Misner was my only Grandson , the hurt will never go away .

[@godzilla3361]

Doris Moleta I'm so sorry, miss

[@terracinacarol]

Doris Moleta So very sorry for your loss. Know that many, many people pray for you and your whole family.

[@angryrick2330]

I am so sorry for your loss. I know its not easy but I hope time has helped give healing.

[@jeannieblack6766]

So very sorry. God bless you all. Know he was a hero

[@rickperryjr851]

I remember hearing about it back in 2013. I just moved out west to Washington state from Michigan a few months beforehand. Firefighting has always fascinated me for some reason, I'm not sure why. I've always cared deeply for firefighters. I understand the brotherhood. May they all Rest In Peace. God bless you.

[@juttaspeaks]

Truly Brave Men. When I first heard the tragic news, my son was fighting a fire in California. I still feel angry that these brave men are without better equipment , better pay and more recognition. There must be newer, better and safer tools available for them to survive. Some of their trucks are 20 y old. We can pin point a satellite in Space , but we can not locate firefighters in the mist of a fire .

[@magnificentfailure2390]

RIP Granite Mountain Hotshots. We will remember

[@2345allthebest]

Anyone who has an affinity for the fire service should add a trip to the memorial for these men to their bucket list... The silence and tranquility at the site allows you to reflect... One of the most moving experiences I've ever had... The hike in is well worth it.

[@KuvDabGib]

I am from Europe, we are not having so serious bush or wood fires here, but whole station went to visit the Granite Mountain memorial site just before the pandemic. We felt it is our duty to pay respect to our brothers in arms and to their families.

[@roberthoovan4130]

It on my list

[@robinnicol7534]

I hate the fact some of the wives and girlfriends still to this day blame Donut for their deaths it’s not his fault Marsh and Stead made donut the lookout he didn’t ever think the wind was going to pickup the way it did

[@Arizona_Desert_Walker]

I never heard he gets blamed but back channel gossip was another GMHS was the usual lookout so if they do feel that way- I never heard that in almost 10 years but I do know who is the usual lookout for the GMHS and I also heard as I am the eyewitness and was on the mountains information and no way even me who watched it all right there would blame Donut because we saw in MORE DANGER than the GMHS who perished as he had the flaming front near him - Donut in God's time will possibly share more ...

[@williamcap2236]

Can't even imagine the pain they are all suffering through i don't know any of them and i have shed tears for all of them and their families ! Sorry for loss R.I.P. Granite Mountain 19 thank you for your service. ❤❤❤

[@DJKATJAAPRADIO]

THIS MOVIE MADE ME CRY SO HARD!!!!!!!!!!!! THEY ARE HEROES AND 19 ANGELS

[@hephaestus6365]

It's crazy, I'm just now hearing about this. Never heard of Only the Brave until I was watching a video where some expert breaks down movie scenes. Found out its a true story and, wow, these guys are legit heroes. I can't imagine what this lone survivor has felt over the years, but he should have no guilt.

[@kennethturner464]

@2.37 to see the tears roll down her face is heartbreaking, may these great men RIP forever and their families find comfort.

[@firewatch814]

WoW, that was hard to watch without crying.

[@rustynails113]

I am 71, retired Cop after 30 years of service....I don't cry, but I just did.Sad.

[@davidrouse7941]

I got my 1st Wildland FF qual when i was 16 yrs old. We weren't allowed on fires unless really needed. Then i went Navy. No shipboard fires to speak of. Lotsa training tho, Fire n Damage Control. About age of 32, i did my Packtest again! Did some fires afterwards, and loved it. Outside of the Navy, Wildland FF were best people i've met. I don't cry very easily or often. But, yep, this is one of those times...

[@bryanpiper5815]

These guys are from my home state and did a job they loved. Last year i got to see the courage of wildland firefighters first hand liveing in Redding,Ca (carr fire) and an hour away from Paradise (camp fire) and knowing people who lived up on the ridge and having famaily and friends who lost everything. My family was lucky the fire stayed away from us in Redding but we did have to evacuate my second oldest stepdaughter and her husband

[@jojkalien4780]

I'm from Indonesia, and i remember granite mountain hotshots..

[@jeannieblack6766]

Just watched the movie on these brave souls, so well done. My heart goes out to each and everyone involved. I can't begin to know what they are going through. To have lost almost the entire station must have been devastating to the community. But Brandon mcdonough you should know you were saved for a reason. Make them all proud of you, and don't feel bad that you are here and they are not. God bless you and your family. As well as all the other families

[@SlobbyNobby_kick]

These guys shall never be forgotten, I want to be a hotshot when I get older just for rememberence for these 19 lost hero's please never forget

[@woabeatz9717]

dirtbike lover20 -sometimes you gotta run.....

[@abrahamrivera6298]

liemuchbro dude And what’s wrong with being compensated?? Dude u sound like a fuckin ASS, Come to find out the city and higher ups were more concerned about property damage then the lives of the firefighters

[@tarheelblue63nc25]

Abraham Rivera they wanted $235 million

[@Tarheel13]

dirtbike lover20 don’t do it just to remember them

[@johnnewcomb5250]

These Brave men are Angels in Heaven now.

[@TheMyTmatt]

I live all the way across the country in SC, and those Men are an absolute Inspiration to me, and make me Brave!💪🏼🇺🇸

[@keithmayhew2161]

May ,they all Rest in Peace.Thank you for your service.There all Heroes that will not be forgotten..

[@independentrealist9299]

RIP firemen thank you for serving.

[@LadyOaksNZ]

God bless these 19 Brave Heroes 🙏 and their families. ❤️🌺 Kia kaha Brendan ❤

[@belovedvoyager.]

Sad event... Didn't know about it until I watched the movie... Now I feel sad and pity for their family and friends... They really displayed humility, love and bravery plus their unique brotherhood

[@HomeGypsy]

Thank you! I had read the article and seen the photographs but did't realize there was a video until I stumbled across this today. Really powerful!

[@lisaclick48]

Great presentation for such amazing heroes who sacrificed their lives trying to save towns from destruction. I feel so badly for their families & friends. I’m praying for them all...🙏🙏🙏💙💙💙🙏🙏🙏

[@1thepner]

Reading a book right now about this tragedy. Summer 2020. Man...these guys were TOUGH !

[@user-rz8bu6vl8x]

Saddens my heart that these brave men perished the way they did, RIP to those heroes ❤

[@stenbak88]

Watching the wives is heart breaking

[@mathewmanzano2284]

God bless these men, and God Bless Prescott Fire.

[@bigdmac33]

I didn't know about this tragedy, really. I vaguely remembered hearing something on the news at the time. It was only when I watched the movie "Only The Brave" that it hit home. I remember near the end of the film, when the camera panned back to reveal the aftermath, when I expected the firefighters to emerge from the fire shelters and when they didn't, my feeling sick to the pit of my stomach. This couldn't be! It couldn't happen! But it did. The moment when the actor playing Brenda McDonough walks into the gymnasium ; when the wives realise that he's it - he's all that's left. They're gone and lives are changed forever. Many words and sentiments will have been expressed since that fateful day - I cannot begin to imagine the bravery of the people that walk into the fire and do battle. But I do know this : that for each of the wives, mothers, fathers and children of the men that were lost, that bravery continues as they face days that are filled with reminders of what was, and what can never now be.

[@edwinabyers2675]

0

[@AdamsOlympia]

I've watched it a few times and never can get through the end with dry eyes.

[@luisanalivia]

I was there! I'll never forget this

[@DJKATJAAPRADIO]

BE SAFE

[@lucardenas709]

Kripto_krazy_kali Thank you. For everything you do

[@ainzooalgownoverlord8913]

@@NguageTrains they needed to create a fire line

[@ainzooalgownoverlord8913]

@@NguageTrains thanks for telling me

[@ELECTRICEYEMEDIA]

I have been driving up Granite Mountain for years as a route into Prescott with my cars and often think about the lives lost every time I go through.

[@donaldreese635]

I didn't know any of this till you tube and my heart goes to every man who lost his life and to all family and friends and I can't imagine what the sole survivor feels inside.

[@TheLovelyMickey]

This is soo sad, I cry every time I see the movie. I could only imagine what these women and their families were going through. RIP to all of them 😭💖‼️

[@Cmazariegos92]

My heart is with all of you 💜

[@jpm4444]

let us learn from this tragedy, and may we never forget these brave men and their families.

[@iloveplasticbottles]

I can't imagine being the only hotshot crew member left. There were 20 of them, 19 died in this fire.

[@troyclegg9849]

I was sitting in my office at work when I heard this in the radio I had on in the back ground. I was stunned at what happened and how many.

[@gloriaannopperman2734]

Forever Blessed and never forgotten! Rest in peace! Tx fan

[@MrKzspy]

Rest in peace fallen heroes, we'll take it from here

[@DJKATJAAPRADIO]

KEVIN YOUR A REAL HERO

[@rob_3417]

What?

[@boldiegoldie]

For all the 19 HotShots who died Rest In Peace

[@abdulmijea]

so sad this happened to good men... god bless them all... its hard,,, my eyes are tears ...

[@sadizm]

Awesome movies to immortalize these heroes.

[@angelicwarrior4133]

Because of the Granite Mountain hotshots I want to become a wildland fire fighter.

[@robertreynolds1167]

So sad. These brave men will live in our hearts forever and ever.

[@gloriaannopperman2734]

Rest in peace Granites and Charles Morton! May God bless all of them and Mr. Morton from Gloria and Bear from Tx and my Heavenly crew!

[@rvisual]

Excellent documentary, great decision to shoot in black & white. If we listen hard enough, maybe we can prevent the next disaster.

[@03focussvt943]

RIP, gentlemen.

[@greyrunner8565]

Heart breaking.

[@storyofcory]

Reading Brendan McDonough's book right now... so sad. :(

[@laudesesteves2400]

Conheci a triste história através do filme”HOMENS DE CORAGEM “sou durão mas confesso que quando assisto o filme me emociono muito 😢,verdadeiros heróis…que Deus esteja com vocês !

[@b.visconti1765]

May the loved ones of these Brave Heros have found Peace and Joy this day in remembering them 9 years later..for you are not lost only in a better place to be found again..

[@logijarlsigursson7611]

Rest in Piece My friend I love you all

[@realmejeremy]

So sad.. can't imagine what they had to endure. They had The Little Shelter things to go in and the heat was probably so intense it didn't really help I can't imagine oh my goodness pray that they're in heaven

[@jillwerner8133]

It's no shame for a hotshot to say" I'm toooo tired and beat,". We've been fighting fire's non stop without a break so let's not break and put our fatigue in perspective instead of risk everything today". I understand that they had been working fires for over a month with out a break? All of them said their energy was at their lowest. " What I don't understand is why didn't they call it quits 30 minutes before that? There were little to no buildings to save anyway? Such a tragic death and disaster......... they did not have that coming. My heart goes out to you and your families. I believe those widows and children deserved more compensation. I read how funds were passed out..... friggin discusting.

[@nicolewilkin4696]

The fire switched directions and was headed for town. Fire leadership was scrambling to move equipment out of the way of the new direction and evacuate edges of town suddenly in the path of this fire. When a fire is blowing up like this there’s little firefighters on its borders can do except retreat to safe zone and wait for it to settle down. Granite Mountain was in their safety zone. Them leaving was highly unexpected and unannounced.

[@thegt3clickcrash329]

Jesus is this sad. There are no words to express how sorry I am for these 19 men and there families. Very brave people.

[@chrispierce2942]

Such a tragic ending for the brave souls. Rest in peace knowing you were and are loved and respected.....eow 30 june 2013.

[@WillF1980]

As I pass the location of this tragic accident I can’t do anything but cry

[@mallyboedwards6196]

I didn't know about this until I was in jail tryna go to fire camp they showed me the movie only the brave n that changed my mind

[@abdiazizahmedosman1147]

Heroes never die the still in our hearts I salute every human being who doing live saver it's painful my condolences to the family who lost the beloved 💔

[@sheilabarajas2717]

Go on Spotify/iTunes etc...and listen to “our investigation, our truth” by penny university, hotshot alumni and the mother of Andrew Ashcraft tell what REALLY happened...these guys were of the utmost caliber and bigger heroes than u realize! Totally worth the listen!!!!! For one, they left the ridge because of the monsoon/lighting storm which was touching down on the ridge...for those who keep making comments about “why didn’t they stay in the black” as if they would’ve endangered themselves intentionally

[@tarheelblue63nc25]

Sheila Barajas what really happened?

[@Tarheel13]

Canada Jack I read all that in previous reports. I thought there was something new.

[@chief_kief3648]

the fire was over 2000 degree Fahrenheit... they literally cooked inside those shelters. it had to be so horrible, i cant imagine what these heros went through. i hope it didnt last long

[@wmhtc4437]

God bless!!

[@user-fu3oy8my8d]

r.i.p heros

[@A-Rodslot1224]

Rest In Peace brothers we’ll see you again with our Heavenly Father. ✝️❤️

[@Arizona_Desert_Walker]

my Yarnell Hill Fire Revelations blog shows never before seen documents and photos and another place to review about YH Fire is Investigative Media.

[@cruzrenteria9134]

Just watched the movie about these brave men. Very sad story

[@reha3063]

I have a friend who lost their uncle, he was one of the firefighters

[@julesbjeweled7891]

Dylan Joseph. The Granite Mountain Hotshots were working the Yarnell fire. They were the ones who perished.

[@grandmaimelda9145]

Glitter_rey Nowlin I'm sorry for your friend's loss

[@gotziskoblach5918]

🙏 19 HERO

[@alenbaker2323]

I lived few miles out I remember everything

[@nickbowen2280]

Breathtaking.. I'm so sorry! RIP

[@bryans2790]

Rest your brave souls

[@darrencarpenter36]

NEVER FORGET....19

[@fearless6416]

True hero's Rip....

[@TheMrcabelas]

Such a sad day.

[@garyphillips1860]

19 hero's

[@davidseminario5593]

I wish somebody in the corporate you tube office would consider having more respect , for my brothers, and remove the commercials . You should not be making money from this tragedy. If anybody is to profit I believe 100% that those proceeds go directly to the widows and children .

[@angryrick2330]

But they dont and never will, fortunately there are people like me and others in the comment that will show the respect, if you are a Hotshot or a FF I want to say thank you so much for your courage.

[@julesbjeweled7891]

David Seminario. I couldn't agree with you more.

[@DJKATJAAPRADIO]

I AGREE

[@cloudydaez]

Almighty Bones troll

[@briankistner4331]

The corporate world does not and will not ever think like that. The all mighty dollar is what's most important to them.

[@wendyjd7935]

RIP 💔💔💔

[@bodhixxx1]

Here in Montana east side we get grass fires when lightning strikes ( dry lightning) one rule to follow keep one foot in the black. Best thing to do is try to flank it to narrow it down and hopefully it will burn into a draw with little fuel it is not worth your life, move the cattle out of the way and deal with the aftermath ( burnt fences water tanks solar panels. but at least you are alive.

[@mikeamerica4301]

RIP 19

[@christophernunez3403]

I was on the Yarnell fire. SoulHunterIHC. Lost good friends that day

[@Arizona_Desert_Walker]

what day? So it makes it easier for me to look in IAPs and Crew Time Reports- and are you willing to back channel share?

[@vlad-pm2zr]

Damn

[@buletpoint]

So sad.

[@thesunsetreptiles]

Those 19 hotshots should have never died

[@raymondfrye5017]

Bad intel.

[@jawanlovesdnd4004]

I'm from North Carolina when I get older I'm visit ing the memorial

[@raymondfrye5017]

You're from where?...NC? That's a long way from Rub Al Khali.

[@stevebrewer1720]

Brave men

[@copperridgegrow3940]

I want to see pics of the bodies in the easy bake oven foil tents

[@jupiterslady8798]

Rip heroes 🪦🙏😢

[@hensen5309]

These men are what society is built on. We have worth as men. This is what we are here for, to take on tasks in the face of fear and death. These men are a small fraction of the thousands of men that die everyday protecting and serving.

[@ZeppelinTheRott]

God is good all the time. These men are in heaven believe and you shall receive the love of CHRIST. GOD bless you all. And God bless these MEN!

[@johnwright3426]

Rip I just hope they didn’t suffer.

[@LostPanzer]

She never had to explain we knew all godly saved humans truthfully di

[@EstherLora]

🙏🙏🙏

[@grandmaimelda9145]

19 is all of our lucky numbers

[@samuelstreeter7763]

See Denver and Denver airport...

[@DJKATJAAPRADIO]

HEROES

[@courtney6126]

Always remembered🤍

[@SheriffofYouTube]

poor ladies

[@charlesharmon8478]

Who could give this a thumbsdown ? SMH

[@uppercutgrandma4425]

This whole tragedy seems sketchy af, and it doesn't make sense, given the learned wisdom of the Hotshots.. here's from Phoenix New Times. The SAI report concluded that no one knows why the crew descended from a safe, burned-over area called ‘the black’ on the top of the Weaver Mountains and dropped into a box canyon jammed with drought-stricken chaparral at the hottest time of the day with the wildfire approaching and a massive thunderstorm bearing down. “No one realized that the crew left the black and headed southeast, sometime after [4:04 p.m.]," the SAI report stated. Putnam said the report's conclusion defies logic. He does not believe that Granite Mountain Hotshots Superintendent Eric Marsh would have ordered his men to leave their safe zone unless he was pressured by superiors to get the crew to the town of Yarnell. At the time the crew moved off the mountain, the fire was sweeping into Yarnell, forcing many residents to evacuate. “Marsh's action makes no sense at all unless he was ordered off the top,” Putnam said. He said he cannot reveal his sources because they provided the information under the promise of confidentiality. But he says he will provide complete details in a formal setting under oath