Granite Mountain Hotshots - Heroes and Heartbreak

[@smokey1255]

I can't even remember this disaster without getting choked up. When I first heard about the loss my first reaction was, "No! This can't be true! Not a whole hotshot crew except the lookout. This has never happened to an entire hotshot crew before." When I verified the truth I was devistated and felt strangely connected to Granite Mountain. I graduated from Northern Arizona School of Forestry and some of my classmates lived in Prescot. I spent a few years on a Southern California hotshot crew. During my first year (1966) the Line Boss on the Loop Fire asked our Superintendent to have us cut line down a chimney. He scouted it and said no. It was too dangerous. Not long after, the Line Boss asked El Cariso hotshots to put in the line. They agreed, the fire blew up, and I lost 12 friends on that crew. What was almost as bad was that we we walking to a new assignment and saw the fire blow up. Two years later we were working a night shift and we were on a cut bank hoping to backfire down hll toward the fire. The main fire blew through the back fire towards us and we had to get in our fire shelters quickly. The fire went over us and we were partially protect by a cut bank on the rosd. The Granite Mountain Hotshots aren't heroes because they died. They would say they weren't heroes at all. But they were because each one of them chose to be part of one of the most elite fire crews in the country who were routinely sent into the most difficult parts of a wildfire. I'm pretty sure they didn't considerthemselves heroes as they were getting their shelters. I know because I have been in their shoes. But they were wrong. They were heroes. especially to those who love them and to those whose who have walked in their shoes.

[@FeatherHorseforge]

I’m an Australian volunteer firefighter of 20 years and I can say no firefighter thinks they are a hero, but the general public thinks differently🙂

[@evilkiller559]

That was beautiful man. I'm barley in my 3rd year firefighting and I'm in it for the long run. I hope to God I and all the Wildland fire fighters are safe 🙏

[@semoneg2826]

Well said..stay safe

[@johnnewcomb9718]

RIP Wade love you cuz I'll see you again one day until then I'll keep fighting the fires you can't. You and the team rest easy I got this.

[@_Boz]

Two of the GM Hotshots were Marine Corps Combat Vets. All of them had sense and purpose to "Serve". They were trained to protect and to advance to the 'fire' not think about their own personal safety! It's about putting 'others' above self!'

[@michaelbarker5162]

Watching the movie and then watching this shows how much these heroes do. Farewell brothers, prayers from bush firefighters here in Australia 😢😢

[@faithfamilyandcountry7452]

michael barker God Bless you for what you’ve been going through these last several week. Prayers from a Kentucky fire fighter in America.

[@seanbaskett5506]

I always pay proper respect to Aussie firies, those Victorian firestorms are WAY scarier than anything we have over here. Americans complain when 100,000 acres burns in a month. Anybody who lives north of Melbourne knows when it pops off there, it's not horribly uncommon to lose 3 or 4 million acres IN A SINGLE HOT, WINDY DAY. In eucalypt groves that burn 1000F hotter than pine or fir. In addition to Melaleuca or Banksias, which are just as spooky when they all burn with blue flames going to the crowns.

[@semoneg2826]

I have lots of respect for these guys

[@SusanMinhTrangNguyen]

July 1, 2020 and I’m still mourning for America’s heroes gone too soon. May your sweet souls rest in forever peace 😭❤️🌹

[@michaelcaudill1412]

Same. Just watched the movie. Amazing.

[@AsymptoteInverse]

If ever anybody deserved to rest in peace, it's them.

[@faithfamilyandcountry7452]

I was a Kentucky Volunteer Fire Fighter when this tragedy occurred I wept that night. I didn’t know the men but it’s part of a brotherhood. Godspeed!

[@kimmypfeiffer9130]

i was a vlunteer in high rolls new mexico...this still makes me cry...i will never forget

[@Roberto-vc4iy]

Not too many Marines can call themselves "the few the proud" twice in a lifetime..... Much respect to all the Granite Mountain Hotshots.

[@aaronm8143]

My brother said the movie put his navy ship all to tears. Heroes they are.

[@ScottDaddyMac]

My dad was a hotshot before he got into L.A.C.F.D. Air Attack and I was lucky enough to go into the Forest Service and join a hotshot crew as a fill in for someone who was injured. These guys immediately accepted me on my first day and I made it my mission to work as hard as they did. I was with them for 4 months, and it was a cool summer, therefore not too many fires. We still went out every day and cut fire breaks through out the Angeles Forest. Once the crew member came off of injury, I got transferred to an engine station. My career in firefighting ended when I contracted a lung infection and I moved onto other endeavors. Knowing how much I worried about my dad when he was on the fire line and gone for days and up to weeks, I would always hug him as hard I could when he came home. The Granite Mountain Hotshots will forever live in everyone's hearts and to this day, I have the utmost respect to those who go out onto the fire line because the risk of not coming home to your families is a wind shift away. RIP, gentlemen, my tears and respect for you will never end.

[@jondavidbristow9819]

19 lost Heroes here in Prescott and we will never forget

[@mdb1010]

wait those men in the beginning footage died in the fire? But its so far and there is so much land to the right? how did this happen?

[@mylittlebuckaroo]

@@mdb1010 They were in a safe place, but they unwisely hiked down into the box canyon. The wind picked up and the fire changed directions and they all burned to death.

[@semoneg2826]

​@@mdb1010watch the movie

[@mikeabbott7209]

I , Have Watched The Movie Around 100 Times. And , Watching This Brings Back A Memory Of A Group Of People In Kingman , Az. That Donated Monies To The Families Of The Granite Mountain Hotshots. My , Heart Still Breaks And The Tears Flow. May They Rest In Peace . I , Have Walked The Memorial Trail And In Peace I Feel.

[@patrickkanas3874]

Forget Thanos this was my favorite Josh Brolin role. Up until I saw Only The Brave a movie never made me flat out cry

[@mrbigshow65]

My roommate and I moved to Prescott 3 months before it happened.its sad to hear about the tragedy. I love on how Prescott people has love for one and another.i have meet some family members of the fallen.also I have meet Brendan McDonough .he is a very nice guy

[@jakeweber3598]

Most true stories of the fallen fall short, this one was a great tribute to these brave men

[@Hazleton1376]

They bought the town time. To my brothers who never made it off the grounds I salute you. God bless you

[@castlekingside76]

I wish these guys had more time. The fire moved so fast that they got caught and they were elite and aware.

[@cindycain9272]

I will never forget this horrible day! Continue to pray for all of these families

[@debflaherty1037]

I'M CANADIAN BUT WATCHING THIS TRIBUTE AND WATCHING THE MOVIE BROKE MY HEART FOR ALL THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF THOSE BRAVE MEN WHO LOST THEIR LIVES THAT DAY. BUT I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE THOSE THAT ARE PUT ON THIS EARTH THAT ARE SO SPECIAL THAT THEIR IMPACT ON EVERYONE THEY MEET IS SO VERY LASTING AND IMPASSABLE THEY LEAVE A HUGE VOID. BUT THE LESSONS THEY LEAVE US IS LASTING. TRUE HEROES AND ANGELS

[@nala3038]

Good comment but you don’t need to SHOUT

[@debflaherty1037]

@@nala3038 I HAVE LUPUS THE MEDS EFFECT MY EYE SIGHT ..ITS THE ONLY WAY I CAN FOLLOW AND SEE WHAT I TEXT..I WAS TOLD IF I YELL DO THIS!!!!!!! I REALLY DON'T YELL MUCH.

[@EPICFAILKING1]

@@nala3038 How is caps shouting? More importantly, why are you offended simply by capital letters? Leave her be lol.

[@Dovietail]

I am watching from a few miles down the hill in Arizona as a wildfire burns not 3 miles from my home in identical rough terrain. Thank God, there's no wind today. But in grateful humility, my heart goes out to the families of these heroes. We think about your firefighter. We pray for you. Thank you. Thank you for your unfathomable sacrifice. Our hearts break for you. The people of Arizona look on that site as sacred ground. As long as wildfires burn in Arizona, we will never forget you.

[@gloriaannopperman2734]

19 souls went to Heaven that day! Forever remembered and watching us from Heaven to keep all of us safe! Rest in peace! Blessings from Gloria and Bear from Tx! 👩‍🦳🐕😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🔥🔥🔥💕💕💕

[@NarlyArly]

Watched the movie “again”, eyes still well up with tears. So heartbreaking, Lord bless their families ❤️

[@dr.loomis4221]

"Again" is a hell of a film. One of the best short films in recent memory.

[@mikelozeau695]

Your memory still lives on Granite Mountain Hotshots. Rest in Peace, and may you continue to inspire and educate people for years to come.

[@LegalShield3000]

Been to the trail. Can't stop learning more about the story.

[@miriamfarnam]

My dad is a hotshot

[@debbiepearce5681]

Thank you for his service. May God bless and protect him.

[@federicopanichella7077]

ONORE A VOI

[@avarageyoungboyfan7924]

Are you going to be one

[@whatwillbem6825]

👍🏼

[@AsymptoteInverse]

I live in North Carolina, a continent away. But I tip my hat to the Granite Mountain Hotshots, who gave their lives for the ultimately honorable cause of protecting their friends and their families. Rest in peace.

[@hunterwilliams3916]

god bless the granite mountain hotshots :[

[@D45VR]

Thank you for this great tribute.

[@DocGrim1]

💔 Rest in Peace.

[@19delta25]

I have been a Hotshot for 13 seasons GOD BLESS GRANITE MOUNTAIN HOTSHOTS RIP MY BROTHERS

[@19delta25]

Bob Saget you will be fine just remember pace yourself and keep one foot in the black god speed brother

[@19delta25]

Bob Saget you got this bro just remember why you want to do it and you will be fine god’s speed brother

[@hilarycox100]

what a tribute

[@seanbaskett5506]

Does it seem strange to anyone else that the Arizona Forest Service didn't give any explanation as to why they went down that canyon towards the ranch, yet were supremely confident that nothing had been done wrong? Hotshot crew sups don't make decisions that take them out of a safety zone downslope on an approaching wind-driven chaparral fire. That almost always means an order came down from the top, and not the kind that ever gets recorded with any transparency. Honor them by getting to the bottom of it. There is much more to be learnt here.

[@Arizona_Desert_Walker]

indeed, indeed. It is also telling if one of the longest running bosses (Sup.) in United States Forest Service history wants me to place my documents so he can use my documents and explain them on Yarnell Hill Fire Revelations blog.

[@michellehamling8470]

Ive just watched this brilliant movie paying respect to your wonderful brave men 👏👏👏 My love & simpathy to the families & friends for your loss😢 May they be at peace & know they're Heroes for ever. Love & condolences from Melbourne Australia 🇦🇺

[@DJKATJAAPRADIO]

BEST MOVIE EVER ITS GETS YOUR HEART I NEVER CYED SO MUCH! THOSE GUYS ARE HEROES

[@shivantocky207]

Kathy Mesker really heartbreaking

[@catehuggins5920]

American heroes one and all..Bless them all...may your families find solace in knowing they gave their lives to help make their community safe...Godspeed heroes....

[@katiebordeaux1029]

as our states are currently burning I have been thinking of the Granite Mountain Hotshots and even have watched the movie again :) Oregon California and Washington are all on fire :(

[@DJKATJAAPRADIO]

You did a good job thank you for such a breath taken movie

[@charlesshearer7653]

If I could do anything like these hero’s then my life would be complete ❤️rest in peace in heaven

[@michaelvalencia7234]

I work wildland fires.. I use to be on a hot shot crew and now I work on a type 2 hand crew... these men yes indeed did die as hero’s but you all gotta remember eric marsh broke many many many safety rules in wildland firefighting, And as a firefighter we are all taught to speak up no matter what they got tunnel vision and saw the end goal instead of seeing what was happening around them and what was infront of them... I pray for their souls and their families but this is the reason why we have 10 standard rules and 18 watch outs

[@geraldmyers3660]

Ex hotshot, now type 2. Don't make sense. That's why people get killed Assigned to Prescott in 2003 Conditions red! Cree 🔥

[@michaelvalencia7234]

@Darrell Seay he left the black, if you are on a safety zone because the fire breaks your trigger points you are to not leave the safety zone unless other wise told, the fire was moving way to fast they left their safety zone to go into a box canyon basically meaning a canyon that has no true escape and the winds go crazy through their

[@michaelvalencia7234]

@@BendoverU1st got tunnel vision saw the town about to get engulfed so to cut off the front they push down the mountain into the canyon… they left their safety point which is such a big no

[@semoneg2826]

​@michaelvalencia7234 true because at some point you have to make a decision that nothing we can do pull out

[@xiyclips4630]

my mom knows all of them, and worked along side them. and she will never forget the words "19 confirmed". this just shows why wildland firefighters deserve more respect then they get.

[@michellehamling8470]

I'm so sorry for your loss of friendships with these lovely brave men. May you know they're at peace & will never be forgotten 😢 Love from Melbourne Australia 🇦🇺

[@jsfbr]

Excellent report. 👏👏👏👏👏

[@2345allthebest]

Great film and a great tribute... No Monday morning quarterbacking here... Men like these are what make us truly great... Not some politician... We will remember and honor their service, commitment and ultimate sacrafice.

[@E180TEKNO]

i am french and big respect for the fireman usa and specialement fireman california and arizona for the big dangerous fire of moutains and forest r.i.p the heroes

[@toldyaso444]

I can only think the most important thing these hero’s would have wished before dying is for their families to be cared for GodSpeed to the “19”

[@HarveyManfrenjenfrensen]

Just thinking about these guys today. Heros, every one of them. :-(

[@thesunsetreptiles]

They wanted to get involved I use to be a hot shot in California we don’t like standing around knowing we could save houses and people lives. So they got into. Very nice people I worked along side them couple time and they will be miss

[@sissymarylen15741a]

Great Movie

[@frankstaples3962]

Reading some of the comments from the guys who weren't there is sickening. You don't know what they faced or why they made the decisions that they made. Fire looks at us as fuel and doesn't care if we make good or bad decisions. Wildland firefighting is possibly even more dangerous than structural.

[@loganironside343]

They left for a reason that we do not know but they do! and.they died heros they will always be heros

[@jamesporter6288]

LOGAN IRONSIDE we will never know but the only logical conclusion that they could come up with was that they went back in to try to save that Ranch. We will never truly know though

[@psychosneighbor1509]

Actually, Frank, we know EXACTLY what they faced and 2:13(go there and pause) is a perfect illustration of it. Yep, that's a flame front, about two miles out and headed up the the valley -- pushed by increasing winds -- in their direction. At some point after this, Eric Marsh(after throwing out the book and any concern for the well-being of his crew) decided it would be a good idea to leave the area of his safety zone and, without a lookout(not that that would've made it a sound decision anyway), parallel the front and beat the fire to the ranch a mile-and-a-half away. The only mystery is why 18 other "highly trained" firefighters decided to follow him. There's an old saying about playing with fire...

[@trevoreisenbraun8787]

@@jamesporter6288 that ranch was their safety zone they were pressured by the incident commander to redeploy into Yarnell

[@DiamorphineDeath]

Everything I've read about Eric Marsh made him out to be not only a very competent firefighter, but a good man as well, in every sense of the word. His crew respected him completely and again, as others have said...don't try and drag someone through the mud when you don't know the exact situation. I'm still waiting on Mclean's book on Yarnell to come out, and he's still researching and writing it...so up until that point, how about you give Marsh some respect?

[@robynsummerrell7687]

They had everything going against them, wind change, high fuel load, no air support, low humidity, thunderstorm, location, time .... the deck was stacked long before there deaths and hindsight is great but knowone forseen this coming...horrific and very tragic way to die and if there is any good to come out of this ...they where together and not alone in the last minutes of life ....rip

[@alexgataric]

@John Doe You don't save a town staying in the black. They were trying to do their job.

[@babybrat2958]

@@alexgataric marsh and steed had to violate many many safety rules in order to get their men into that situation.

[@semoneg2826]

​@@alexgataricsometimes you can't save the town..just get people to safety

[@frankiepag1720]

​@babybrat2958 they thought the wind change was slow enuff for them to make it to the ranch. As soon as they dipped down the ridge the real weather change kicked in. Watch the report. Miscalculation is unfortunately what happened.

[@floridagurl40]

I haven’t seen the movie yet but GOD BLESS these hero’s & their surviving families 🙏🏻

[@BullCityJ919]

These men are heroes and may they rest wonderful in Heaven.

[@DJKATJAAPRADIO]

19 heroes and 19 angels

[@lisahubbard6998]

God bless boys

[@dorjetoncepele2527]

I was watching the movie today and my eyes were teary at the end 😢😢😢😢 R.i.p for all the braves

[@szbi3540]

they're real heroes

[@danielsteel9757]

One of the best movies ever made

[@jamesporter6288]

I think the common consensus as to the reason they left the safety zone and went back into the fight was to save that Ranch.. it's so sad to think that they lost their lives over property. I know that their job is to protect property but that Ranch was not worth their lives.

[@faithfamilyandcountry7452]

James Porter if you’re referring to the concrete buildings at the base of the hill it was actually a fire proof safe spot cleared of vegetation and it’s was their next position to continue their attack. And if I recall correctly the last chance before the fire reached the final trigger point and mandatory evacuation would be in effect.

[@jmysterio100]

From what I read from media accounts in AZ that ranch was the Helms' Ranch and it was an designated safety zone. The buildings had metals roofs and stucco exteriors and all vegetation was cleared from a wide area around the ranch. In fact, the Helms didn't evacuate that day because they didn't want to leave their 22 animals behind, so they hunkered down and stayed on their property and the fire blew over them without even damaging the structures. It was the speed of the fire that doomed the Hotshots, it just overtook them too quickly before they got off the ridge. www.azfamily.com/archives/yarnell-ranch-owners-closest-to-where-granite-mountain-hotshots-died/article_150d4c33-fe02-531d-a45e-280951a172da.html

[@faithfamilyandcountry7452]

Jay Hysterio well stated

[@gloriaannopperman2734]

@@jmysterio100 Amen! Well stated! Blessings from Gloria and Bear from Tx

[@kennypeshlakai2416]

I’m an old dude and have watched these tragedies happen over the years. Why did this tornado take out this house and leave the one across the street perfectly fine ? God’s mystery. I contemplate often that this event happened to school future firefighters .

[@TravisLoneWolfWalsh]

they went out like warriors

[@jexgaming1685]

the movie was great

[@castlekingside76]

Some of these fires were moving 1 km a minute, that's faster than a car. Its impossible to get away with that. Its known that radios don't function properly in ash clouds. We owe our fire fighters the best technology they can get.

[@semoneg2826]

Wow .yes the wind was pushing it

[@DJKATJAAPRADIO]

MIKE YOU DO A GOOD JOB

[@thesunsetreptiles]

I knew about them before the movie came out

[@semperfidelis8386]

right from the beginning......these guys you see there are all dead....and they're sitting there just watching the fire that's going to kill them.

[@anthonytrenerry1767]

What's really hard to to see is and every time I do see it I end up crying but seeing those 19 Hurst drive by

[@TravisLoneWolfWalsh]

If only they stayed up there. God bless them all

[@ScottJohnson-y6k]

To this day, all these years later, it still hurts my soul. I will not ever know who the survivor has stayed alive. In my opinion, the folks that live in Prescott and the surrounding areas are heroes as well.

[@pjdebenedetti3214]

Same fire conditions as Los Angeles California. They had winds and dry conditions.

[@jamielancaster01]

Does it make any sense why they left the black.

[@centuryt7043]

Probably just a rare lapse in judgement.

[@robertschultz6922]

If you were not there please dont judge. There are reasons why you leave the black. They were in route to their safety spot, and were going go get back into the action. Hotshot crews dont like to just watch! The weather changed look at the final report, everyone was caught off guard structure group leader missed judged the time and distance for trigger points for evacvs because it moved so fast. These guys were in various stages of deployment so not everyone got under their shelters!

[@semoneg2826]

They wanted to save the town but it was hopless

[@DJKATJAAPRADIO]

YOU DID THEM PROUD

[@curiousmind616]

Good film , rip guys

[@beccaboard]

I wish they had stayed in the black.

[@riccardoz2953]

at the end, was solved why they left the safe black area? why they havent a gps to tell their position?

[@peckerwood780]

Those doods were the ultimate but they broke lots of thier own rules I just hope the lessons were learned.

[@jeeppissing2867]

their last meal was at my father restaurant :/

[@TreDiquan]

RIP BROTHA"Z

[@jonathonmurphy2952]

We will never forget you granite mountain hot shots heroes she wore and are✌️🫵🙏

[@oscarmilan2606]

My first fire was Esperanza Fire on 06

[@HH-el8vp]

HAIL VICTORY.

[@stevendelcarlo3294]

Found no negligence my ass. Not one person relay a single radio transcription for that crew when they where call air support

[@hfdshrimp3973]

Steven Del carlo they did, the fire got so close and shit was happening everywhere so not every call was heard or transmitted

[@StoneyBlaser]

You aint been in those situations so why dont you just STFU!!!

[@bodhixxx1]

wildland fires are chaos to put it lightly. On our ranch we have had grass fires GRASS not tall greasy brush like AZ and knowing every inch of this ranch you put a fire on it and you cannot tell which way is which. I was on a neighbors fire once and they had a lot of support from the BLM and local fire fighters I show up with 1300 gallons of water and no one is around all burned out they moved on to fight it on another front, within seconds the wind picked up and dry cow shit blew out into the grass and the fucker kicked up again luckily I was there and started driving the black behind it and spraying water ( actual fire fighting rig mounted on a deuce and a half) was able to buy enough time for others to show up and help put it out. Pure chaos is all I can say it is scary as hell being near a wildland fire.

[@michaelpcooksey5096]

Maybe not relevant for this particular fire but From my little students chair ...Firefighters need their own hand signals to communicate when all they can do is see their target. Radio out, Locomotive fire sound, across the gorge/draw/ etc. [Not fine hand configurations ... but arm and hand signals. Special ops have theirs for close in contact ... Look at the Indian Sign Language and the sign language for the deaf as a start point ... but get set signals to communicate in deployment situations.

[@paulcollins629]

Thanos just snapped the fire out

[@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.

[@adamamber0513]

They went into the canyon to save the one house. It’s not about the village, town or city it’s about the single house or single person.

[@LizzyLou]

Well said!

[@babybrat2958]

No, they were moving to that house because it was deemed a bomb proof safety zone. They were repositioning to that home so they could be in position to try and save homes in the area. That ranch was designated as a safety zone.

[@passionworld6857]

Untold stories

[@cory4576]

I can tell you right now as a lieutenant in urban search and rescue and retire fire service the leader of thst crew got his men killed by ooor leadership decision to get them cut off

[@nickbritton8830]

I fought fire on the wallow fire. Knarley

[@nala3038]

There isn’t anything knarley about a fire!

[@nickbritton8830]

@@nala3038 unless you have fought fire on the fire line you wouldn’t understand

[@lisadylla5580]

Whoever you are quit yelling. It was plain and clear what Eric said and who it was

[@WaldoIsLegit]

Lisa Dylla I hope whoever that was wether it was the Air Ops Officer or the IC or whoever in that ICS command unit was reprimanded for that at the very least.

[@hfdshrimp3973]

Lisa Dylla actually no, the radio operations were shit, a lot of people were yelling over the same channel, so many people talking the air drop could hear Eric

[@debflaherty1037]

@@hfdshrimp3973 FROM ALL I'VE LISTENED TO I AFREE WITH YOU. THOSE MEN THE FELLOWSHIPS. AMAZING. IM GLAD THEY WERE SO WELL REPRESENTED IN THE MOVIE AND WHAT A GREAT MOVIE!

[@sstace69]

😢

[@paulcollins629]

Why the fuck did they leave that mountain

[@semoneg2826]

To save the town

[@ariw9405]

Mike sees a tragedy and thinks cha Ching let’s make a movie and people think it’s altruistic?

[@DJKATJAAPRADIO]

You dont look old

[@brianmcdaniel9557]

They would still be alive if they would've followed the rules and stayed in the black. They broke several important rules that led to there deaths and the investigations proved that.

[@jamesduprey2719]

She remarried.

[@hephaestus6365]

Heroes, all. I often wonder if they were too tired (or even hung over) to be out there. They seemed to abandon safety for no reason. That said, I wasn't there.

[@stoner907]

Those men are heroes. But Eric Marsh bad decision to move out of the black cost the lifes of 18 men

[@stoner907]

DAVID FRELIGH actually I am a firefighter, I may be on the structure side but why leave the black and move without a look out or letting your superior know? He made a bad call and it ended in tragedy.

[@stoner907]

@@joeyto you're right, I'm not. But it's not hard to know he made a mistake.

[@smokey1255]

I did not know the guys but they are my brothers too. You see, I was on a hot shot crew on the Angeles several years in the mid 1960s, have 12 years of wildfire experience, and have 7 years of structure fire experience. I have investigated accidents on several wildfires. When I heard about the tragedy I wept for days. Once you become a firefighter, you become a member of a brotherhood (sisterhood) with other firefighters. The brotherhood of current and former hotshot crew members is especially tight. I examined all of the reports and other information I could find about the tragedy. From what I have heard Eric was a good Superintendent, but was known to push the crew to the edge of safety. A Prescott Assistant Fire Chief even said that. He thinks Eric saw Yernell in danger and he felt he could help if he could just get the crew there. He assured the IC by radio that the crew was in the black even though they were deep in the green. One of the first things I learned as a rookie hotshot was to keep one foot in the black.

[@sammysam2615]

In combat or in fires, last second decisions are made due to circumstances that are out of your control. Were mistakes made? Yes. Yet radio/communications weren't working correctly and no one makes mention of this, only one man's mistake. Any one who claims they would've done it perfectly, you're full of shit. Respect these men and their families, not our opinions

[@cntslesfabrication]

I worked my first wildfire less than 2 week's after these heroes lost there lives and I can guarantee you that they weren't trying to be heroes in anyway they were doing what they did on every fire they worked to protect everything that the fire could destroy. Because that's what you do. The 2nd day of my first wildfire there was a convoy of 8 trucks with everything that the crew's needed to protect and to do there Jobs and within a matter of minutes the fire changed direction and was coming right at us but the road we were on you couldn't see that it changed. We became sitting ducks and didn't even know it until the fire was on top of us and if it wasn't for all of the crews that we're up the mountain that came to get us out of harm's way we most likey wouldn't be here. No matter what how much you study weather you will never be able to know what it's going to do at any possible moment.

[@MONTANACHILLIN]

But.... we're unskilled labor.

[@geraldmyers3660]

Ayyeee. Granite Mt.

[@jamesmiller7283]

Some crewmembers maybe afraid t speak up an met their demise!

[@925Madden]

Drives me nuts how Americans pronounce Prescott

[@jerzeydolphins]

oh well then dont involve yourself in our language then

[@ironwoodnf]

Our town our pronunciation

[@nala3038]

@@jerzeydolphins shut the hell up!

[@lisadylla5580]

The radio guy is a joke

[@Glorpusflorpus]

Shut the fuck up.

[@Glorpusflorpus]

@Tyler thank you

[@irishmcb7]

I agree these people did their jobs to ther best of their ability! They were doing what they were trained to do! But my question is why are they trained that way. Why fight mother nature! It's telling you something so defense I think is best and let it burn out. You can't fight it. You might win the battle but mother nature will always win the war. Defend houses! Defend your people but don't try and defend the land cause it's not gonna happen. You might put it off but you won't win. You will just make it worse with overgrown land and dried up bushes because there isn't enough water for everyone. Let it be!

[@ironwoodnf]

They were trying to save houses.

[@oddessydied]

They were trying to save houses it even mentions it in the movie clip they show in this video. The whole point is to stop it before it hits houses not when it’s already there or after

[@robertschultz6922]

You want to save the resources, bulidings, lives etc. Ask the town of greenville ca, if they should just let it burn or markleyville/woidfords ca, during the tamarack fire

[@semoneg2826]

These guys had a passion for what they did....however your correct you just have to make a decision that you cannot win mother nature and pull out...just help people get to saftey

[@semoneg2826]

​@@ironwoodnfhouses could build back..lives cannot