Granite Mountain 19
Hello, Fellow Firefighters; With the beautiful weather we’ve been having, many of us have enjoyed being outside. Whether it be taking care of the yard, getting the boat(s) ready for fishing and recreation, or just enjoying some outside time with family, springtime lets us reconnect outdoors with our family and friends.
Many of us look forward to upcoming summer vacations as well. Some of us, however, find ourselves fighting dangerous brush or wildland fires, due to lack of rain compounded with high winds—a very dangerous combination. Thinking of all those things reminded me of a few recent trips I took with my wife and some close friends. I’d like to use this article to share that with you. I hope you find it informative and inspirational; I know I sure did.
A few years ago, I, along with my wife Michele and our grandson Gunner, went to Arizona and took a trip to the Prescott area. It had been on my bucket list to visit the memorial of the Granite Mountain 19 Hotshots, who tragically died while fighting a major wild fire in the Yarnell area (near Prescott—depicted in the movie “Only the Brave”). It was a bit overwhelming, as I could imagine myself in their company, fighting for my life and the lives of my fellow firefighters. I also imagined what our own EMS and firefighters have gone through, giving their ultimate sacrifice while serving our Minnesota citizens and communities. So much reflection was going on—and at the same time I found myself feeling proud to be part of such honorable calling.
A bit more about the Granite Mountain 19 Hotshots tragedy:
* The Yarnell Fire started from a lightning strike on Friday, June 28, 2013 and was 100 percent contained on Wednesday, July 10, 2013. The Hotshots died on Sunday, June 30, 2013.
* Wildfire experts generally expect fires to move at a rate of about one mile per hour. When the wind changed direction on that Sunday afternoon, the Yarnell Hill Fire was moving four miles in twenty minutes. Winds exceeded 50 miles per hour, temperatures in the blaze peaked at 3,000 degrees, and flames reached 70 feet.
* 127 homes and 8400 acres were burned in the fire.
* 14 of the Hotshots were in their twenties; 2 were just 21 years old.
Last December, we once again headed to the Yarnell/Prescott area, this time with a group of close friends, one of whom was also a fellow (retired) firefighter. We had learned about a memorial hike that ended up overlooking the spot where the Hotshots ultimately succumbed to the fire, a place that has been kept protected and sacred. It was a challenging hike (actually a climb) through the Weaver Mountains near Yarnell. But we enjoyed the sunshine and a light breeze on a beautiful December day, very much different than the intense heat and crazy winds the Hotshots endured as they climbed the mountains and rugged terrain, desperately fighting to slow down/stop the course of the dangerous fire before it swallowed up more homes and hurt people. There are resting spots along the way, each one honoring one of the members lost in that tragic fire. Once you get to the last peak, you can overlook a small circle in the valley below, marking the spot where the hotshots lost their lives. They were only a short distance away from safety. Once again, my friend and I reflected on how traumatic this was not only to the firefighters, but to their families and communities as well. We paid tribute to them and reiterated how proud we were to be part of such an honorable organization.
Speaking of being part of an honorable organization…The funerals of the Granite Mountain 19 Hotshots were spread out so that their families and community could attend each one of their memorial services. I’m not sure how the word got out of that plan, or maybe the calls just came in, but firefighters from all over the world volunteered their time to serve on the department for weeks/months so that all who wanted to attend the services and take bereavement time-off could. Impressive, but not surprising, right?
If you are thinking about doing this pilgrimage to Yarnell/Prescott, I highly recommend it.
As a side note, I decided to focus on this particular event because I had actually visited the sites. I did not intend, in any way, to take away from the devastation in the more recent fire tragedies in Lahaina, HA and the Los Angeles, CA areas. All three fires have some commonalities, though: They all became more intense and out of control due to dry and unusually high wind conditions; and firefighters from all over stepped up to give helping hands whenever possible.
Be safe out there. Enjoy the fun that spring and summer bring, absolutely. But as fire conditions become elevated, use everything you’ve learned to keep yourselves and fellow members safe while you’re doing what you do best---protecting our communities from harm’s way.
And here’s my friendly reminder that we’d love to see you at Breezy Point in September for the 2025 MSFDA Conference.
And, again as always, stay safe.
Dale Grochow,
President MSFDA