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Entire crew of 19 elite firefighters wiped out in Arizona wildfire Entire crew of 19 elite firefighters wiped out in Arizona wildfire
(about 1 hour later)
Nineteen firefighers have died in Arizona after being caught in one of the deadliest wildfires in the US for decades.Nineteen firefighers have died in Arizona after being caught in one of the deadliest wildfires in the US for decades.
The specially trained "hotshot" firefighters were forced to deploy their fire shelters – tent-like structures meant to shield them from flames and heat – when they were caught near an Arizona town, state forestry spokesman Art Morrison told the Associated Press.The specially trained "hotshot" firefighters were forced to deploy their fire shelters – tent-like structures meant to shield them from flames and heat – when they were caught near an Arizona town, state forestry spokesman Art Morrison told the Associated Press.
"The entire hot shot crew had been killed by the fire," Prescott fire chief Dan Fraijo said."The entire hot shot crew had been killed by the fire," Prescott fire chief Dan Fraijo said.
"We're devastated," he said at a news conference Sunday evening. "We just lost 19 of the finest people you'll ever meet."
"This is as dark a day as I can remember," state governor Jan Brewer said in a statement. "It may be days or longer before an investigation reveals how this tragedy occurred, but the essence we already know in our hearts: fighting fires is dangerous work."
Hot shot crews are elite firefighters who often hike long distances into the wilderness with chain saws and backpacks filled with heavy gear to build lines of protection between people and fires.
"By the time they got there, it was moving very quickly," Fraijo told Associated Press of Sunday's fire.
"One of the last failsafe methods that a firefighter can do under those conditions is literally to dig as much as they can down and cover themselves with a protective ... foil type fire-resistant material with the desire, the hope at least, is that the fire will burn over the top of them and they can survive it," Fraijo said.
"Under certain conditions, there's usually only sometimes a 50% chance that they survive," he said. "It's an extreme measure that's taken under the absolute worst conditions."
The fire started on Friday and spread to 800 hectares (2,000 acres) on Sunday amid high temperatures, low humidity and windy conditions. Officials ordered the evacuations of more than 50 homes in several communities.The fire started on Friday and spread to 800 hectares (2,000 acres) on Sunday amid high temperatures, low humidity and windy conditions. Officials ordered the evacuations of more than 50 homes in several communities.
The National Fire Protection Association previously listed the deadliest wildland fire involving firefighters as the 1994 Storm King fire in Colorado. It killed 14 firefighters who were overtaken by a sudden explosion of flames.The National Fire Protection Association previously listed the deadliest wildland fire involving firefighters as the 1994 Storm King fire in Colorado. It killed 14 firefighters who were overtaken by a sudden explosion of flames.
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