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| Firefighters die battling Arizona wildfire | Firefighters die battling Arizona wildfire |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least 19 US firefighters have been killed battling a wildfire in central Arizona, local officials say. | At least 19 US firefighters have been killed battling a wildfire in central Arizona, local officials say. |
| They died while fighting the blaze threatening the town of Yarnell, about 80 miles (130km) north-west of Phoenix. | They died while fighting the blaze threatening the town of Yarnell, about 80 miles (130km) north-west of Phoenix. |
| The fire was started by lightning on Friday and spread rapidly amid high heat, low humidity and strong winds. | The fire was started by lightning on Friday and spread rapidly amid high heat, low humidity and strong winds. |
| Arizona and other parts of the western United States - including California - have recorded near-record temperatures over the weekend. | Arizona and other parts of the western United States - including California - have recorded near-record temperatures over the weekend. |
| It is the highest death toll for firefighters in a single incident since 9/11, correspondents say. | |
| 'Hotshot' unit | 'Hotshot' unit |
| "It has been confirmed that 19 wildland firefighters have lost their lives on the Yarnell Hill fire Arizona," the US Wildland Fire Aviation said in a statement. | |
| The firefighters were part of a specially trained "hotshot" unit who had battled other wildfires in New Mexico and Arizona in recent weeks, officials say. | |
| They were forced to deploy emergency tent-like structures meant to shield them from flames after becoming trapped and "something drastic" happened, Prescott Fire Chief Dan Fraijo said. | |
| "One of the last fail-safe methods a firefighter can do is literally to dig as much as they can down and cover themselves with a protective fire-resistant material, with the hope that the fire will burn over the top of them and they can survive it," he said. | |
| "Under certain conditions there's usually only sometimes a 50% chance that they survive. It's an extreme measure that's taken under the absolute worst conditions." | |
| Two other members of the elite unit who suffered severe burns have been flown to a burn treatment centre in Phoenix. | |
| Some 200 firefighters are still battling the fast-moving wildfire, which has grown to 1,000 acres. Additional reinforcements have been called in. | |
| The blaze has forced the evacuation of local residents. | |
| About 50 homes in and around Yarnell have been evacuated to a nearby community college, local journalist Andy Greenberg told the BBC. | About 50 homes in and around Yarnell have been evacuated to a nearby community college, local journalist Andy Greenberg told the BBC. |
| In recent days. dozens of people across western US states have been treated for exhaustion and dehydration, as the heat wave continues. | In recent days. dozens of people across western US states have been treated for exhaustion and dehydration, as the heat wave continues. |
| Temperatures in some areas were expected to reach 54C (130F), close to the world's all-time high recorded 100 years ago in California's Death Valley. | Temperatures in some areas were expected to reach 54C (130F), close to the world's all-time high recorded 100 years ago in California's Death Valley. |