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| Arizona wildfire near Yarnell kills 19 firefighters | |
| (about 3 hours 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. At least 200 homes were burned. | The fire was started by lightning on Friday and spread rapidly amid high heat, low humidity and strong winds. At least 200 homes were burned. |
| Arizona and other parts of the western US - including California - had near-record temperatures over the weekend. | Arizona and other parts of the western US - including California - had near-record temperatures over the weekend. |
| It is the highest death toll for firefighters in a single incident since 9/11. | It is the highest death toll for firefighters in a single incident since 9/11. |
| US President Barack Obama said the firefighters were heroes who had "put themselves in harm's way to protect the lives and property of fellow citizens". | US President Barack Obama said the firefighters were heroes who had "put themselves in harm's way to protect the lives and property of fellow citizens". |
| Arizona Senator John McCain said the families of the dead firefighters were in the thoughts and prayers of all Americans. | Arizona Senator John McCain said the families of the dead firefighters were in the thoughts and prayers of all Americans. |
| "This devastating loss is a reminder of the grave risks our firefighters take every day on our behalf in Arizona and in communities across this nation. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten," he said in a statement. | "This devastating loss is a reminder of the grave risks our firefighters take every day on our behalf in Arizona and in communities across this nation. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten," he said in a statement. |
| Arizona Governor Jan Brewer said it could take "days or longer" to reveal how the deaths occurred. | Arizona Governor Jan Brewer said it could take "days or longer" to reveal how the deaths occurred. |
| "This is as dark a day as I can remember," she said. | "This is as dark a day as I can remember," she said. |
| '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. | "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. | 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, said Dan Fraijo, fire chief in the nearby city of Prescott. | They were forced to deploy emergency tent-like structures meant to shield them from flames after becoming trapped and "something drastic" happened, said Dan Fraijo, fire chief in the nearby city of Prescott. |
| "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. | "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." | "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. | Two other members of the elite unit who suffered severe burns have been flown to a burn treatment centre in Phoenix. |
| Dwight Devlin from the Arizona Sheriff's Office told the BBC that the firefighters were carrying fire blankets but they were ineffective in this case. | Dwight Devlin from the Arizona Sheriff's Office told the BBC that the firefighters were carrying fire blankets but they were ineffective in this case. |
| "Some were actually found with those blankets over them but unfortunately it appears the flames and the heat were too much," he said. | "Some were actually found with those blankets over them but unfortunately it appears the flames and the heat were too much," he said. |
| Mr Devlin added that they were on their way on foot to an area where they had been directed to clear brush to prevent the spread of the fire. | Mr Devlin added that they were on their way on foot to an area where they had been directed to clear brush to prevent the spread of the fire. |
| The tragedy is the worst in a wildfire since 1933, when at least 25 firemen died battling a fire in Griffith Park, Los Angeles. | The tragedy is the worst in a wildfire since 1933, when at least 25 firemen died battling a fire in Griffith Park, Los Angeles. |
| Homes destroyed | Homes destroyed |
| Some 200 firefighters are still battling the fast-moving wildfire, which has grown to 1,000 acres. Additional reinforcements have been called in. | 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. | The blaze has forced the evacuation of local residents. |
| An estimated 200 homes were destroyed in Yarnell, the Associated Press reported, almost half the properties in the town. | An estimated 200 homes were destroyed in Yarnell, the Associated Press reported, almost half the properties in the town. |
| 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. |