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| Arizona mourning 19 firefighters killed in wildfire | Arizona mourning 19 firefighters killed in wildfire |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An Arizona town is mourning 19 firefighters killed on Sunday battling an out-of-control wildfire about 80 miles (130km) north-west of Phoenix. | An Arizona town is mourning 19 firefighters killed on Sunday battling an out-of-control wildfire about 80 miles (130km) north-west of Phoenix. |
| Residents of Prescott, where the crew was based, said they were numb and shaken by the loss of firefighters from an elite "hotshots" wildfire unit. | Residents of Prescott, where the crew was based, said they were numb and shaken by the loss of firefighters from an elite "hotshots" wildfire unit. |
| And President Barack Obama said he was "heartbroken" and called the deceased firefighters "heroes". | And President Barack Obama said he was "heartbroken" and called the deceased firefighters "heroes". |
| It is the highest death toll for a fire crew in a single incident since 9/11. | It is the highest death toll for a fire crew in a single incident since 9/11. |
| The fire was sparked by lightning on Friday and has spread rapidly amid high heat, low humidity and strong winds. | The fire was sparked by lightning on Friday and has spread rapidly amid high heat, low humidity and strong winds. |
| During a press conference in Tanzania on Monday, Mr Obama said the thoughts and prayers of the US were with the firefighters' families. | During a press conference in Tanzania on Monday, Mr Obama said the thoughts and prayers of the US were with the firefighters' families. |
| "They were heroes - highly-skilled professionals who, like so many across our country do every day, selflessly put themselves in harm's way to protect the lives and property of fellow citizens they would never meet," the US president said in an earlier statement. | "They were heroes - highly-skilled professionals who, like so many across our country do every day, selflessly put themselves in harm's way to protect the lives and property of fellow citizens they would never meet," the US president said in an earlier statement. |
| 'It's my community' | 'It's my community' |
| As the sun rose in the smoke-clouded sky on Monday, residents of Prescott, Arizona, placed flowers and signs on a fence near the fire station. | As the sun rose in the smoke-clouded sky on Monday, residents of Prescott, Arizona, placed flowers and signs on a fence near the fire station. |
| "I had to come here," Toby Smith said. "This is my community. This is my family and I felt the immediate need when I heard the news to get up to come down here to see what I can do no matter what it is." | "I had to come here," Toby Smith said. "This is my community. This is my family and I felt the immediate need when I heard the news to get up to come down here to see what I can do no matter what it is." |
| Orya Salverg said she was leaving flowers in tribute "for everything" the fire crew had done. | Orya Salverg said she was leaving flowers in tribute "for everything" the fire crew had done. |
| "They go all over the country trying to save people's lives. I knew some of these people... it's the least I could do." | "They go all over the country trying to save people's lives. I knew some of these people... it's the least I could do." |
| On Monday, Prescott, Arizona, fire department confirmed to the BBC that 19 of its firefighters were killed in the blaze in circumstances that remain unclear. | On Monday, Prescott, Arizona, fire department confirmed to the BBC that 19 of its firefighters were killed in the blaze in circumstances that remain unclear. |
| The crew, an elite unit called the Granite Mountain Hotshots, had battled other wildfires in New Mexico and Arizona in recent weeks, officials say. | The crew, an elite unit called the Granite Mountain Hotshots, had battled other wildfires in New Mexico and Arizona in recent weeks, officials say. |
| As they became surrounded by flames, the firefighters were forced to take shelter in emergency tent-like structures, said Prescott Fire Chief Dan Fraijo. | As they became surrounded by flames, the firefighters were forced to take shelter in emergency tent-like structures, said Prescott Fire Chief Dan Fraijo. |
| "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." |
| Dwight Devlin from the Arizona Sheriff's Office told the BBC that the firefighters were carrying fire blankets that had apparently proven ineffective. | |
| "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. |
| "This is as dark a day as I can remember," Arizona Governor Jan Brewer said on Monday. | "This is as dark a day as I can remember," Arizona Governor Jan Brewer said on Monday. |
| Homes destroyed | Homes destroyed |
| Some 250 firefighters are still battling the fast-moving wildfire. Eighteen total hotshot crews have been deployed to the fire, which is entirely uncontained. | Some 250 firefighters are still battling the fast-moving wildfire. Eighteen total hotshot crews have been deployed to the fire, which is entirely uncontained. |
| 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, about half the properties in the town. | An estimated 200 homes were destroyed in Yarnell, the Associated Press reported, about half the properties in the town. |
| In recent days, dozens of people across western US states have been treated for exhaustion and dehydration, as a heat wave continues. | In recent days, dozens of people across western US states have been treated for exhaustion and dehydration, as a 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. |
| How wildfires spread | How wildfires spread |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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