Darrell Willis at Granite Mtn. Hotshot Deployment Site Pt 2

Part II
Granite Mountain Hotshot co-founder and Prescott Wildland Division Chief Darrell Willis answers media question at the shelter deployment site where 19 members of his crew died on June 30, 2013.

[@rrydinhigh2452]

I think Chief Willis did an excellent & respectable job doing this event press release. He's a brave fellow, I can tell.

[@sandm4eternity]

May they rest in peace and I pray for the family's it must be so hard to loose someone like that

[@JPF941]

Sadly this man lost his job as a result of this fire. He was not there, was not in charge of the scene, had no control over the crew's use or actions that day, but yet was ruined because of it as well. That is truly sad.

[@imabadmofosofux2348]

Wow

[@larryphillips7349]

How do you know

[@DJKATJAAPRADIO]

19 heroes 19 angels

[@s1Las13]

sometimes bad things happen.. no matter how much you train or prepare, bad things still happen.. these men were heroes who died doing a job they loved.. RIP Granite Mountain Hotshots.. even in 2019 your memories are living on..

[@TorahisTRUTHPsalm]

When you turn off US 60 to go towards Congress and the Yarnell hill there is a mile sign saying, Yarnell 19 (miles) crazy.

[@georgebuonopane3790]

Torah is TRUTH. Psalm 119:142 I’m confused What do you mean ?

[@EliminationCarter2011]

@@georgebuonopane3790 on the road signs that tell you how many miles till the next town when you turn off us 60 the sign says yarnell 19 miles

[@danzmitrovich6250]

I am a volunteer firefighter and fighting structure fires is like wildland fires as well is all about the fire behavior it can always over run your crew at anytime and when that monster makes it move to your crew it can always take them out regardless at anytime they are always doing a very good job

[@Jkl306]

Heroes. So sad rest in love💜

[@DJKATJAAPRADIO]

They where trapped

[@retiredmarine3225]

At 21 seconds, he states the GM hotshots made the decision to protect the structure. Although I've watched this many times to appreciate what our wildland firefighters here in the NW do, the Boulder Springs Ranch was a designated safe zone wasn't it? Why did they leave the black to protect a safe zone? More importantly, were they ordered by higher up to break the rules to leave the safety of the black to protect a safety zone? Regardless, brave lives lost.

[@tootall4646]

He is speculating that is why they moved. None of the SAIR or other videos state that was fact. They keep saying, we'll never know why they left the safe black. There is radio traffic of someone from Operations asking if they could do structure protection and GM replied no, but then there is a definite conversation later between Marsh and Steed discussing something. Donut, the spotter alleges an argument between Marsh and Steed regarding making a move, but it was later redacted.

[@devonsmith602]

Where can this radio traffic of Operartiins asking GM for structure protection be found? Thanks

[@jerremys7010]

Remember Jesse was running the crew they felt the outflow the occured marsh was divison Alpha but he ordered the crew of the mountain due to he thought the outflow boundary that occurred was it

[@Brian_yeah_that_brian_Strang]

Whoop whoop. Thank you. I feel for the wives and children

[@DJKATJAAPRADIO]

Will we ever know he said fire went 4 times faster before

[@thomthumbe]

No matter what security and safety you plan, there will always be a deadly possibility. Even staying home and hiding under the bed could have a deadly outcome. Life is a risk.

[@DJKATJAAPRADIO]

No one knows what really happened

[@g6rcteam81]

Yes they do they were ordered to go to the ranch. They were killed by the order not the fire. The fire was just the tool. The order to go to the ranch was the reason.

[@gtrance3567]

Correct, think they asked marsh twice to hike down. He didn’t want to but eventually conceded. Pretty messed up.

[@Del-Canada]

When they found the deployment site only a few of the men were still under or with their shelters. Where did they find the rest? I assume they just panicked and tried to make a quick escape by running or something? Holy shite that is one scary way to die. Rest in peace, lads.

[@coreylee9342]

the rest of the shelter vaporized in the heat, all 19 were found were they laid, very sad.

[@patricklaurojr7427]

They basically got cremated alive horrible way to go

[@camhunter7648]

I’m not sure trying to protect that house was worth the deaths…

[@jeffwhitelock1013]

The ranch was already safe! I don't think they were going to protect that ranch. That cheif did a amazing job. Heros no matter what I just wis I understood what they were thinking.

[@georgebuonopane3790]

Jeff Whitelock the ranch was there safe zone They were trying to get to the ranch, Bc they didn’t know at that moment the wind changed direction, (obviously) When they started to go to the ranch at was to get in front of the flame, so the could make a line and burn it out, but the minute they got down that hill. Eric was already scouting a head When (sup) Eric told his men to come off the black and come down that mountain, Eric never in a million yrs thought he’s was putting his men in danger So can you imagined how eric felt when he came around that corner and seen the flaming front coming right at him ... Even more, can you imagine when he ran back to his guys and said deploy, he knew they were all going to die ... It’s really not his fault, but as a leader Can you imagine how he felt knowing he made that mistake.... As a man That breaks my heart

[@jeffwhitelock1013]

@@georgebuonopane3790 yes but that guy keep saying they were going to protect that structure. He's talking about the ranch which was already a safety zone. They were already in the black they didn't need to move. So why did they move? The guys says 3-4 times there going to protect that house the only thing there is the ranch. So why does he keep saying they were going to protect that structure?

[@georgebuonopane3790]

Jeff Whitelock your right I can only think (Wow this is so cool we can talk on here lol) sorry Okay Ya but think they said the ranch had a metal roof And there was no brush for like 90 feet around the ranch The fire front went right around that ranch and right into that ally and killed them ... So I can only guess they were trying to get to the ranch to regroup and make a fire line I’m just trying to think like if i was in that position, ya know ... ya my only guess is that for some reason

[@ej9618]

Supposedly the owners of the ranch did not evacuate. The area was actually not safe anymore because the height that the flames had reached. The fire burned right over the ranch. It was the fact that the roofing was metal that prevented burning. With all of that being said, there are so many different accounts on this story, many with differing or contradictory details. This case was a media shit storm. RIP to the brave men who fought this fire.

[@rdubezmoney]

13:32 the guy in the background does a Jesus on the cross on the fence!! 😮

[@TruckDriverDey]

Incredible observation! I went back a few seconds and watched. He did it facing the fence then turned around and faced away from the fence! A sign from God that their souls are at peace? Or just a stretch? I'm going with the spirit of the lord! Amen

[@robertdoell4321]

These HEROES tried to move from the black to their Safety Ranch and Got caught by the racing flame front.1) A new Watchout should be created to ALWAYS keep Eyes on the Fire and Stay on the Ridge if at all Possible instead of losing Sight of the fire in Canyons or draws. 2)Also they should be equipped with real shelters stainless sheets with aluminum cloth keeping them together and Sheep wool insulation inside. 3)NEXT they should have O2 canisters to breath. The Fire stole their oxygen. 4)NEXT they should have a couple of Steel cable kites to locate themselves to aircraft. 5)NEXT Hotshots should have access to aircraft channel and aircraft should have to monitor it and air channels. This is NOT a Climate change issue it IS a 50 Year Buildup of Unburnt Fuel Issue.

[@wendyjd7935]

Heartbreaking story. RIP fallen heroes ❤❤❤

[@dmx125]

They should of never gone down into that green valley,,a drop plane or helicopter should of taken the job of protecting the ranch or let it burn

[@raymondfrye5017]

Those green bushes fooled me too until I saw the real thing in California 2004. The surface of the plant was all oily: the kind that burns easily in a fire. Botanist friends told me that's the bio-system out there. Plants burn and seed pods explode seeds all over, AFTER the fire. Seeds then use all those minerals and nutrients and sprout. It's a thirty year cycle, or was. Human interference in land management is causing Wildfires every year now. Sincerely

[@raymondfrye5017]

@Scott T I'm not really qualified to answer because I don't have professional training like firefighters do , but according to that analysis done ,the boys didn't stand a chance because it was a fire tornado. I presume they wouldn't make it ,what with all their gear...a tragedy foreseeable. Regards

[@raymondfrye5017]

@Scott T Hey! No problem here! You guys are in the thick of it,the experts. I'm just the chemist,armchairing it out here. No Sweat

[@JPF941]

the ranch survived with only the loss of one air conditioning unit. The ranch was a designated safety zone, they were going there for safety not protection. They were less then .4 miles away from that when the fire got to them. The ranch owners stayed on the ranch and took photos of the fire as it blew past their property. The ranch was how the entire community should have been built.

[@ashleyjackson4012]

The ranch ain't need protection it was a safety zone lol it ain't burn at all

[@jamesholcombe435]

Or the forestry service

[@toldyaso444]

True Hero’s now with God

[@DJKATJAAPRADIO]

They are gone only god knows what went on

[@davidkelley7299]

No. We know what happened. Eric fucked up.

[@g6rcteam81]

They were ordered to leave the safe zone to go to the ranch . The order to leave killed them .Not the fire. fire was the tool .The order was the reason.

[@g6rcteam81]

@@davidkelley7299 for listening to the order. Douchbag

[@tootall4646]

@@g6rcteam81 Understanding this video was made less than a month after the deaths. Mr. Willis and the entire community was still in a state of shock as the wheels were already turning behind the scenes to gather data, complete interviews etc.., to offer up the forthcoming SAIR report, about two months later, which essentially identified no wrong doing on anyone's part. Yet in this video, it is interesting how he hypothesizes and makes the conclusion that they had to be moving to the ranch to "save lives" and assist with structure protection. The SAIR report specifically says the IC asked GM if they could move towards town to assist with structure protection, before they ever left the lunch spot and the reply was NO. Who replied, Steed or Marsh? The lookout had already departed his watch area, and they could see the town was in the path of the fire. Then we have the radio conversation between Steed and Marsh, with Marsh talking about, "I knew this was going to happen, I could just feel it you know? That's why I wanted to know your comfort level." The lookout says in later interview, then withdrew his statement about hearing an argument between Marsh and Steed. Of course no one can confirm it. During that conversation, the crew is standing, geared up and ready to move. I think someone gave the order to move, but was it Marsh or someone else? Why did they follow it, and break every rule in the book? After all these years, it's hard to listen to this video and hear him say it was God's plan and I would of been right there with them. I know they want to depict this as some heroic event, the movie does it, Willis does it, the media did it and God bless them all for the job they did and their families, but I don't believe any of them thought for a second they were doing anything heroic by walking down a box canyon, full of unburned fuel, just to muster at a Safety zone. They were watching the fire from the hill and they thought they had plenty of time. They were all tired and overworked and maybe, they just wanted to go home to their families that night. Were they just wrong or did something else happen they couldn't foresee that caught them? Over the years, there has been talk about a backfire lit near Sesame street and radio chatter from Blue Ridge talking about stopping some idiots from killing a bunch of guys. The managers of this goat fuck would never let that out of the bag if it happened. Much easier to leave us all to our own conclusions, that a last minute heroic dash of 18 men just followed their leader into the gates of hell to save some structures, maybe. Dead men tell no tales to the contrary.

[@jerremys7010]

They felt a outflow, hence they thought that outflow was the one they were expecting mash asked jesse an the crew to come down of the mountain he felt that the outflow was done til the second outflow occurred

[@robertdoell4321]

This man is very kind but still apologetic for Bad Strategic planning. Saving the lookout Brendan was a fluke. These shelters are woefully inadequate and $500 wasted as fire tests have proved. These heros died for us. I just wish they had moved down on the ridge line so that they could have kept eyes on the fire but that is hindsight.

[@larryphillips7349]

My wife took me to Yarnell years ago and I never forget the trailer we stayed in was on a hillsiide on the east side of town with brush all around and never even considered being in a fire prone area. There was a coffee shop restaurant down of the main hwy and one little store to get necesaties. Does anyone know where Im talking about and wether that area was burned.

[@user-oy9zy4ds9m]

The shelters only protect to 500 degrees and the fire got to around 3,000......

[@hannah3655]

I watched a video on the deployment shelters and I thought that it got around 250-500 degrees in the shelter, not what the temperature of the fire was?

[@debd5641]

There is no shelter made that is light enough to carry, that can protect against the super high temps. Plus the sustained period of time is also a factor.

[@mariabrady4031]

He also stated that their deployment shelters were made to withstand *radiant* heat, not the direct fire that swept over them. He may have said that in part 1 of the video.

[@georgebuonopane3790]

Idk why ppl are acting like this is hard to figure out. When they came off the black, the fire was Heading away from them. And within that 90 seconds of coming down that hill, the wind shifted and came towards them ... There’s was nothing in the world they could of done. The flame front was coming a 1/4 mile every 30 seconds That’s like 55mph They couldn’t run back up hill. The bush trees are like 8-10ft tall and like 4-7ft wide Just making that small deployment circle took 20 guys and the circle wasn’t more than 10ft in diameter... And that’s 20 savage beasts of guys. It just so so so sad 🥺

[@rollingthundervids6364]

The temp got to around 2,000 degrees. They probably suffocated before they were burned. The incoming fire consumes the oxygen.

[@DJKATJAAPRADIO]

Thank you your doing justice for them god bless and Rip

[@raginald7mars408]

reading all the Hidden details - I wonder, how this man can stand there. Pretending to not know. Pretending. Covering up a terrible ugly story. Sacrifice of expendables... horrible!

[@jamesholcombe435]

Where was the weather forcasters with the fire service.

[@raginald7mars408]

Sounds like Custer´s Last Stand Hill...

[@independentrealist9299]

I hope shelters are designed for fire conditions, NASA was supposed to be working on something?

[@debd5641]

The thing is the weight. They have to hump these things in with them while also carrying 60 lbs packs plus tools, saws...all over and through inhospitable terrain. Often they travel miles on foot without paths. The weight is a factor. Carrying them in would only be one part...oh yes not just the weight, but their volume when packed woukd be much more voluminous. The other thing is trying the depliy an unweildy shelter in a set of rapidly changing conditions. Many have trouble shaking out and entering the existing top grade shelters. It would be harder to shake out and climb into a bigger heavier shelter as flames are fast approaching. Its great that people keep thinking about these things as thats how new ideas are generated, and that means lives could be saved.

[@tymyshoes103]

Phrase to take away: Risk v Reward. Teams reflects off it’s leader. This situation, everyone was in synced with what the leader thought was right at the moment. It’s a good testimony of very good leadership. Whether there is a causality or not. The Team was in synced of it’s leadership.

[@Lemonnparty]

M

[@storyofcory]

Is that "hill" behind Darrell Willis ever going to be green again if no one deliberately plants vegetation there?

[@frankieieroluver13]

It can be...it might take awhile to grow back

[@jerryjerrylahngenhairy4724]

Yes.

[@midnitesilverrun8631]

It absolutely will grow back these places need fire to keep things in check and help them grow

[@Sinaloa_Cartel]

Sad for the tragic loss of life. What is that guy doing on fence at end of video?

[@Hexaven]

Derrick Foreal Possibly knew the crew. Or taking in a very surreal moment of being on hollowed ground, trying to piece together what 19 men cohesively felt as they prepared for the end. Reflection.

[@Sam-jm1nn]

Hexaven well said.

[@remieneb]

They shouldnt of left the black' they would be alive today

[@coltenhyde5159]

remieneb they had to leave the black. The air tanker put out there burn out. That air tanker should be responsible for the 19 hotshots

[@victorlabouche6471]

@@coltenhyde5159 Nope - they didn't have to "leave the black" in-fact plenty of seasoned hotshots are still alive that decided to disengage on the Yarnell fire that same day. Marsh made a call to have these guys leave a safe zone and take them into the red, sad and yes - these guys all lost their lives as the result of a bad decision.

[@juliovalencia256]

Those men are heroes 😢

[@tbugher62]

They screwed up is what happened.

[@brandonhill2183]

Fire can move at blazing speed and you have minutes or even seconds to react and execute. You have no idea if they screwed up. Show some gad damn respect

[@victorlabouche6471]

@@brandonhill2183 What this case proves is that the marrying of 'structural fire-fighting tenets to wildfire tenets doesn't work, and this fire killed 19 people as a result of a bad decision. Not like the jury is out on this. If you're in a situation where you're deploying, you're in the wrong place at the wrong time. This fire was a hard pill to swallow because the leadership failed to follow wildfire protocols when they made the decision to descend off the ridge into unburned brush that hadn't burned in nearly 50 years into a box canyon with zero escape route whatsoever. They also had no lookout once MacDonough was forced to leave when his situation became compromised. First major rules of wildfires is: lookout / communication / escape route (know where it is) / know where the safety zone is. 3/4 of those were out the window when they left the hill. If they came under smoke inhalation on the ridge, felt they had to leave because the fire was coming up behind them, nobody knows. But the reality is Marsh made a bad call, and he and the crew paid with their lives. Top Gunning and Hollywood films can't change the basic facts of the case.

[@somersfamily]

you gay?

[@douglasfir9744]

yarnellhillfirerevelations

[@DJKATJAAPRADIO]

I dont see ERIC OR JESSE WOULD DO ANTHING TO HARM THEIR CREW I THINK THE FIRE TOOK OVER LIKE HE SAID THEY DINDNT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON

[@victorlabouche6471]

There was no lookout in place once McDonough was forced to leave his position, the crew effectively had zero sight of the fire to the ridge to the north. Again - other crews came home alive that day when they felt the wind change and saw that the winds were unpredictable. Marsh/Steed made the best call given what they had at the time, but this fire is a hard lesson for others to learn: don't violate Wildfire safety codes: Lookout / Safety / Communication / Escape Route. They had none of these once they left the ridge, period and this tragedy needs to be learned from, not "Top Gunned' and written up to bad luck.

[@robertdoell4321]

At 4:04 they were in the black and ON THE RIDGE and could see the fire front AFTER that time they moved down the canyon and the FIRE FLAME FRONT CHANGED Speed and Direction ensuring they would be killed. Eric and Jess did NOT make any mistake. They made the decision based on the character of the fire at the point in time they were in the black. IF THEY HAD MOVED ALONG THE RIDGE instead of done the canyon they would have seen the character of the fire change and they would have been safe but if they adopt the new WATCHOUT I propose in my comments Hopefully it would ensure other crews' safety.

[@yakmyer]

Darrell Willis order GM IHC off the mountain to provide structure protection in town. There's radio transmissions in a national forest engine. Willis states GM is heading down the hill from the heal of the fire. It's on KZbin. This guy should be doing life!

[@devonsmith602]

Where on YT can this radio traffic be heard? Thanks

[@DJKATJAAPRADIO]

Why is everyone blaming Eric Nd Jesse

[@Nazaba09]

Kathy Mesker because they’re pretentious Idiots. An investigation was done. Eric did nothing wrong.

[@DJKATJAAPRADIO]

I agree

[@debd5641]

People always look to blame someone or something. These guys were all heros. They did their best, in rapidly changing dynamic fire conditions, exacerbated by changing weather conditions. Yes, a report to expect wind was sent and rcvd. There was a wind increase prior to the blow up. So it would be reasonable for anyone to assume that the forecastcwind had come through, and as that had passed, there was no reason to expect another. They were heros.

[@victorlabouche6471]

@@Nazaba09 Not true. He made plenty of mistakes that day. He violated wildlife fire protocols across the board, Top Gunning away the facts doesn't change the fact this was entirely preventable due to human error.

[@ashleyjackson4012]

@@victorlabouche6471 human error was everywhere that day my husband was on that fire the only other hotshots crew that was there that day blue ridge ND he said that crew could have been saved ....help was just to late if the vlat made it to them minutes eld be spared and they would of made it to the ranch

[@SnoopyDoofie]

6:20 "We didn't skimp on anything". Yet no GPS devices were used to indicate their location and relay it to a pilot who was dropping fire extinguisher fluid. And where were those drones? They've been available for over a decade. A drone with a camera with some weather sensors could have given them more information. So yeah, you skimped on stuff that was cheap, accessible and could have saved their lives.

[@1986mancini]

SnoopyDoo in the future they need gps technology

[@anUNBROKENglory]

Agree with you about the gps, but drones are not cheap.

[@ruffneckranch]

you really think a drone with a camera is going to work with smoke that fills the sky? won't be able to see anything. take the drones lower and they're just going to have their performance reduced or even fail due to the heat and smoke. pilot had an idea of where they were but again, the smoke makes it very difficult to see the ground, let alone people on the groun.

[@debd5641]

You know it's easy, for everyone to sit back and in the peaceful safety of their armchair, and start looking to place blame..."Well if they only had drones, or gps..." A little information is just that. What is lacking in that, is the understanding of the logistics. You cannot fly drones in airspace proximate to low flying fixed wing aircraft and helicopters whose approach and attack patterns are in constant flux, with a dynamic set of rapidly changing airflow patterns (as fires makes it's own weather, which is then affected by varying terrain, and altered and augmented by regional weather.) Throw heavy smoke columns that reach many thousands of feet in altitude, and add in blow ups. Flying a drone in that, is not like flying it in a park on a sunny day. Maintaining control of the drone....well, let's just skip that, and go to the much more important factor. I suppose you know what "bird strike" is, and how a single bird, who gets sucked into an engine, can bring down a plane. It's not possible to avoid a drone, the same way a bird can't be avoided by a moving plane. In this environment, the aircraft fly low to make drops, as well as for moving crews and equipment. Plus, the flight paths for drops are low on approach, through completing a drop, so it's not low flying just limited to flying low only right over the fire. There's just a lot more to it than people think. My uncle flew these missions, and explained how low they have to fly, or the drop will dissipate in the air and it won't help. As far as GPS...maybe there will be technology in the future.. But right now, even the military doesn't have each member on a mission gps tracked, even in a war zone. It's because of all of the signals. Things have to advance s little more in that area. Meanwhile maybe a single gps for the group... Theres a lot to it all. It's great for people to think about these things so maybe there will come new ideas and advances. It takes interest and passion to work on the potential advances. It's great to keep thinking about this, and that's how new ideas that could help, can come to light. I hope I've given a little basic information so that people like you, who are thinkers, and have true interest, can keep working on ideas. That is wonderful !

[@midnitesilverrun8631]

Jared Sheridan you are aware that drones can see threw clouds and smoke right?This type of stupidity is why this man stands here and lies and you believe it.

[@davidkelley7299]

Heroes? Not. Storming the beaches of Normandy. Now thats a hero!

[@patricklaurojr7427]

Yea and I bet you wouldn't have balls to do neither

[@daniellecolbeck1983]

.......said in your cozy living room chair.....