Journalist John Dougherty's Investigative MEDIA . "Brendan expressed concerns about talking to someone because he needed to talk," she said. (As I have for 42 straight months since December, 2015.) "Division Alpha, Bravo 33. He said McDonough called him late last year and "wanted to get something off his shoulders. Long Canyon was laid out in a panorama below us. Although McDonough's purported disclosure to Willis occurred in the fall, it had not surfaced publicly until now. A person is legally drunk in Arizona at .08%. Only one Granite Mountain Hotshot survived the fire. 5:00AM. He should have the freedom to tell the truth.". Trails. See more ideas about granite mountain hotshots, granite, wildland firefighter. Their 100-plus-page report is more descriptive than prescriptive, though it does provide some clues to the hotshots' thinking, and reveals a number of new details. The Hotshots Trail takes you through the Weaver Mountains and includes a 1,200 ft. elevation gain with a 5-8 percent grade. Yarnell lee and diane helm own a ranch 600 yards from where 19 granite mountain hotshots died in the yarnell hill fire on june 30, 2013. The image appears to show the scene of where the 19. The Maricopa County medical examiner conducted autopsies on the bodies of all 19 hotshots for Yavapai County on July 2, 2013. Messages left with the Florida Forest Service requesting an interview with Karels were not returned. The report deliberately avoids placing blame. There is no ambiguity, according to the findings: "the deployment site was not survivable.". Three years later, granite mountain hotshots memorial state park was created to remember and honor them. Granite Mountain Hotshots team leader Eric Marsh radioed through to let his commanders know the group had a predetermined safety zone. It's very easy to Monday-morning quarterback all of these things that happened. Amanda Marsh declined a request for an interview and has refused in the past to provide copies of Marsh's phone records from June 30, 2013. Visiting the juniper during a loop hike of Upper Pasture Trail #38, Little Granite Mountain Trail #37 and White Rock Spring Trail #39, is 6.6 mi. Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park was dedicated in 2016 as a place to remember the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshot Firefighters who were lost on June 30, 2013, while fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire. Willis and Paladini later met with lawyers from the state Attorney General's Office, Forestry and ADOSH, urging them to get a sworn statement from McDonough. Grasses and shrubbery, however, are going gangbusters. The hotshots spent less than two minutes preparing the site where they would deploy their emergency shelters, the report concludes. He said he did not want to violate a confidence, and gave McDonough a weekend to publicly reveal the information. The park opened on November 30, 2016, and had over 18,000 visitors in its first year. reads one recommended discussion point. Phoenix's independent source of Granite mountain hot shot firefighter autopsy reports. "If we are aware of two things like that [the cell phone and the camera], what else is there that nobody has seen?" Willis, who supervised the Granite Mountain crew and since has retired, said he gave a CD with the photos and videos to SAIT investigators. Attorneys in those cases have been working to achieve a resolution that would satisfy all parties. Granite mountain hotshots hiking to their assignment, june 30, 2013. Granite mountain hotshots hiking to their assignment, june 30, 2013. I felt bad I did not have something in my pack worth donating. In late 2014, attorneys for ADOSH attempted to delay a deposition of McDonough that had been set for Nov. 26. ]WB|H!Ks%Y{ w}px3y<3G8F2f53fBb,3hZFHbr&#BLbDpc56&a2/A/_hRbJp_QT$ uX:X6PM[C6PQZM /U0\%[OitF+x3GQ3(Q3R:=xx 3. See more ideas about granite mountain hotshots, granite, wildland firefighter. jordan. Eric was passionate about wildland firefighting. At 4:38 p.m., there was a call from At the age of five, andrew moved to prescott with his family, where he spent the next 24 years of his life with his brother, thomas james (t.j.) ashcraft. Until somebody can prove something happened, until somebody can prove it, there is no reason for me to get worked up about it. in Arizona last summer. Dec. 5, 2013. Instead, they are among thousands of pages of supporting documentsreleased to the media in December 2013. "If [the personal property was] released to the same deputies, then there is something fishy here," says Keen, who worked as Yavapai County chief medical examiner for 29 years and Maricopa County chief medical examiner for 14 years. It also led authorities to interview other potential witnesses, and prompted an unsuccessful effort to subpoena McDonough. From the Trail #41 sign, it is of a mile through another surviving stand of shady trees to the turn off to the Granite Mountain Hotshots juniper. Moments later he radioed back with a more serious message: We . So, Prescottstyle and I chose Door #2, hiking the long loop counter-clockwise. The death of 19 granite mountain hotshots, which i wrote about for this magazine and, later, in a book, marked the worst wildland fire disaster in almost 100 years. He marks the anniversary by remembering the 19 men he calls his brothers. See more ideas about granite mountain hotshots, granite, wildland firefighter. 0:00. His wife, Desiree, says shell never stop grieving. The two state investigations into the deaths of 19 members of the granite mountain hotshots released. those who died. "If they stay in the black, they do no good. marked what is believed to be the final transmission from the 19 "hotshot" crew members killed in the June 30 disaster, the greatest loss of life from a U.S. wildfire in 80 . The team visited the accident site, reviewed audio and video files, interviewed individuals associated with the incident, reviewed fire, weather, and behavior data, and examined available records and physical evidence. he says. The YCSO report, however, includes MacKenzie's phone as evidence. MacKenzies camera included video clips of a crucial discussion between Marsh and Granite Mountain Captain Jesse Steed that suggests disagreement over tactics before the crew left the black burned-over area. Its hard to put that kind of trust into someone playing such a big, important role, Steed explained. Burned to death with 17 crewmen under his command because he ultimately followed marsh's orders. The death of 19 granite mountain. At 4:04 on the afternoon of June 30, the hotshots were "in the black," on a ridge with the active fire in view. He made the best decisions with the information that he had at the time and I believe that to be true because I know him," she said. Among them were the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a municipal team out of nearby Prescott. investigation revealed commanders made numerous mistakes managing the wildfire The Yarnell disaster will no doubt lead to debate about the need for improved communication, location, and protection technologies. See more ideas about granite mountain hotshots, firefighter, wildland firefighter. The last fire supervisors knew, the Granite Mountain Hotshots were in the black. asks Ted Putnam, a retired federal wildfire fatality investigator who participated in the investigation of the South Canyon Fire that killed 14 firefighters in Colorado in 1994. The settlement called for the 12 families to each receive $50,000 and for the seven others to each get $10,000. On June 30, firefighters with the Prescott Fire Department's interagency called the Granite Mountain Hotshots were overrun and killed by the fire. Officials reveal last words of granite mountain hotshots in deadly arizona wildfire. Today, the investigators released their long-awaited report, and unfortunately it doesn't offer a definitive answer. The broken chain of custody of two key pieces of key evidence further undermines the integrity of the investigation of the worst loss of life suffered by wild-fire suppression teams (known as Interagency Hotshot Crews) since 1946, when the first such crew was formed. New Times filed a request for the autopsy reports under the Arizona Public Records Law in October, more than two years after Polk refused to release the autopsy records, citing privacy concerns. Century plants also represented. The fire was blowing up, evacuations were being carried out, and at the time it likely seemed that other firefighting teams were in more vulnerable spots. "I'm just not doing anything within the media involving around any of that kind of stuff," he added. Polk argued in August 2013 that the privacy of families of the fallen firefighters exceeded the public's right to examine the documents. Yarnell fire: New account of hotshot deaths. Matthews and his partner, Conrad Jackson, were on the northwest side, setting up a sprinkler system in case the fire got close to a . "My understanding of the argument between Eric Marsh and Jesse Steed was that Steed did not want to go down," Paladini said. The . We wanted it to be real; we wanted the truth of who they are to be portrayed, Caldwell said. The YCSO police report, however, states that Boelts specifically prepared a spreadsheet that detailed items collected from each firefighter:Note that Lt. Boelts created a spreadsheet articulating what personal property was located in each bag with corresponding name, YCSO number (1-19) and medical examiner case number. There is no evidence, the investigators note, that anyone asked the hotshots to move location. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. . Derailment incident focuses federal agencies and Congress on safety. Rather than return, so soon, for a third time, I decided to visit the massive alligator juniper Granite Mountain saved during the Doce Fire, which threatened Prescott only a week before the Yarnell Hill burnover. At some point, as a wall of flame moved in, Marsh joined the hotshots and became trapped with them several hundred yards from the ranch house. Become a member to support the independent voice of Phoenix 2023 Endeavor Business Media, LLC. called the Storm King Mountain Fire) of 1994. About Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park. The image showed up on a social media page devoted to the granite mountain hotshots on thursday; The image appears to show the scene of where the 19. Official Report on Yarnell Hill Fire Released, 60 Scientists Are Trying to Block the Sun, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. the fire then? I look at my son and I see my husband.. In this June 2, 2012 file photo, crew members from the Granite Mountain Hotshots of Prescott, Ariz., cut a fire line along a mountain ridge outside Mogollon, N.M.. Nineteen members of the crew . The clips reveal more about the day that 19. ", .css-v1xtj3{display:block;font-family:FreightSansW01,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:100;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-v1xtj3:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.1387rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-v1xtj3{line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.18581rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-top:0rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.23488rem;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0.9375rem;}}60 Scientists Are Trying to Block the Sun, Particle Accelerator Reveals Beginning of Time, Earth's Inner Core Has Another Inner Core, 8 Questions About Turkey With an Earthquake Expert, Conspiracy: Blaming Weather Weapons for Earthquake, Scientists Just Discovered a Literal Hell, How the NFL Grew the Field for Super Bowl LVII, The Doomsday Clock Is at 90 Seconds to Midnight, Uh, Earth's Inner Core Just Stopped Spinning, Supercomputer: 27% of Earth's Life Dead by 2100, Why Bill Gates Keeps Buying Up So Much Farmland. Founded in 2002 as. What Does that Mean for Employers? On June 30, it overran and killed 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. 2023 www.azcentral.com. If a picture says a thousand words, these stunning photos of the Yarnell Hill Fire in central Arizona speak volumes about the bravery of the firefighters who risked their lives to protect the communities in the fire's path. Hotshots Trail Journey Trail - Once at the observation deck, the trail descends 400 feet over miles to the Fatality Site. It was well deserved and Hollywood did right by Prescott., RELATED: Everythingto know before hiking Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park. On duty 100% cotton fire department, fire rescue and IAFF duty shirts are available in all sizes with personalization options.Firefighter fire dept logo of The Granite Mountain Hotshot His pup Betty was especially glad to see me when I gifted her some delicious bones I picked up at Miesfelds Meat Market when my wife & I visited Wisconsin two weeks ago. Marsh is part of a brief three-way discussion on the radio about whether back-burning from a . It was his third season on the team, and after being named the Granite Mountain Hotshots rookie of the year in 2011, he was in a leadership positio of a mile west of Blair Pass,White Rock Spring Trail #39 passed through a small patch of unburnt trees, which provided welcome relief from the sun. Posted by jim nintzel. But he disputed key details in Paladini's account. New Times obtained the reports in October. By the time the autopsy reports were released, 12 of 13 wrongful-death lawsuits filed by the families of the deceased hotshots against the state Forestry Division, the city of Prescott, and the Central Yavapai (County) Fire District had been settled. The image showed up on a social media page devoted to the granite mountain hotshots on thursday; I hope to let people remember those brave. local news and culture, John Dougherty "Until Brendan comes to me and talks to me about it and tells me that something happened " she said. The Granite Mountain Hotshots were born of a simple premise: the town of Prescott needed protection from wildfires. As one expert quoted in the report says: "The scale of fires today is extreme. www.firehouse.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. The clips reveal more about the day that 19. Nineteen firefighters from Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew were killed June 30 battling a wildfire near Yarnell, Ariz. PRESCOTT, Ariz. - The 19 firefighters killed during last weekend in an Arizona blaze died of burns and inhalation problems, according to initial autopsy findings released Thursday. Fourteen shots, jumpers, and helitac crewmen at South Canyon, while the entire Granite Mountain hotshot crew, nineteen men, died at Yarnell Hill. Widow of hotshot boss Eric Marsh says he %22made the best decisions with the information that he had at the time and I believe that to be true because I know him.%22. The recordings were released after an In 0.8 miles, at the powerlines, turn right onto FR 38. "We all care about McDonough as a person and sympathize with him.". . YARNELL Lee and Diane Helm own a ranch 600 yards from where 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots died in the Yarnell Hill Fire on June 30, 2013. ", Selden warned that delaying the deposition might harm surviving family members because versions of McDonough's revelation would leak and be distorted. Upper Pasture Trail #38 remains old jeep trail for a mile to the intersection with White Rock Spring Trail #39. So, I moved over there. Do you YCSO Deputy Joshua Nelson collected phones that arrived at the Medical Examiner's Office from the personal items of two other hotshots, and the phones subsequently are identified as evidence, according to autopsy records. The tragedy all but wiped out the 20-member Granite Mountain Hotshots, a unit based at Prescott, authorities said Monday as the last of the bodies were retrieved from the mountain in the town of . The Yarnell Hill Fire burned 8,000 acres, destroyed 114 structures and forced hundreds of residents to flee for their lives. He said, before radio transmissions from the scene fell. The report also states that investigators had "no indication that anyone asked them to move and does not know for certain why they moved.". The number 19 was everywhere, including a half dozen more impromptu white granite rock sculptures. audio provides a fuller picture of the fight against a catastrophic wild fire "Who the hell was talking to who and at what time?" The new website provides industry-specific content for employers in chemical manufacturing, construction and transportation industries. If you hike in from Contreras Road, add 1.6 mi. ", "So you're on the south side of They are just not coming home. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. Still, lots of fresh fuel. Two widows of the Granite Mountain Hotshots say they helped with the creation of the movie and they feel thatit portrays their husbands and the elite team's story. Join the New Times community and help support Journalist john dougherty's investigative media. Posted By Jim Nintzel on Wed, Dec 16, 2015 at 11:00 AM. The word "mistake" is never used in reference to the hotshots' decision to leave a safe zone in the midst of volatile and uncertain fire conditions. the final calls for help. The intersection has a number of old trail signs, plus at least two 19 arrows. The two state investigations into the deaths of 19 members of the granite mountain hotshots released to the public in 2013 did not include the complete autopsy and toxicology reports of the men who were killed on june 30, 2013 in the yarnell. The clips reveal more about the day that 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots died while . Payne said there were one or two other division supervisors on June 30, and said he didn't believe that the Blue Ridge Hotshots were under Marsh's supervision. 2013 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reuters. OSHA to Follow White Houses Lead in 2023. When Willis reported the conversation to Paladini and others, it set off a chain reaction of legal actions beginning with reports to the Arizona State Forestry Division, the Prescott City Council and the Arizona Attorney General's Office. On Thursday, the true story of those men who fought on the front lines premiered across the United States. "In his voice, what I heard was he knew, I think and I believe that he knew they There are three main hiking options to visit the Granite Mountain Hotshots juniper: Straight to the juniper is a 3.2 mi., 375 AEG, round trip hike. Yavapai County released the reports a couple of days later. Yarnell hill fire in arizona over the repeated objections of his assistant crew boss, captain jesse steed who was. Granite mountain hotshots death photos. He marks the anniversary by remembering the 19 men he calls his brothers. Juliann Ashcraft said she found out her . Granite Mountain Hotshot Brendan McDonough purportedly disclosed new information about the fire. McDonough, who no longer works for the city, has obtained private legal counsel, David Shapiro. There was a small lizard on the Trail #41 sign. 37++ Granite Mountain Hotshots Death Scene Photos, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Thankfully no foxtail, like what fuelled the ongoing Woodbury Fire, which started a week after I hiked from Woodbury Trailhead into Fraser Canyon and Randolph Canyon. Dec 16, . YARNELL, AZ - We are now learning more about what happened on June 30 when 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots deployed from Prescott, Ariz. died while battling the Yarnell Hill Fire. Follow the 19 arrows left, on Trail #39, to head straight to the juniper. "I was just saying, I knew this was coming when I called you and asked what your comfort level was," Marsh says to Steed in the first short video. Granite mountain interagency hotshots crew. Like, who these men werethey deserved to be recognized. In June of 1990, the Dude Fire had torched 24,000 acres and killed six . The image appears to show the scene of where the 19. The SWCC also dispatches eight New Mexico-based hotshot crews. . A study from Robert Half offers six practices that will make employees happy, and productive. ", First published on December 14, 2013 / 9:33 PM. Granite mountain hotshot brendan mcdonough purportedly disclosed new information about the fire. It worked. As Eric looked after his hotshots crew and was away during fire season, Amanda tended to the horses and worked to grow her business. Dr. Vladimir Shvarts. They think they can move without it being especially risky." "This is a matter of extreme sensitivity. . It felt earned, Caldwell said. The Granite Mountain Inter-agency Hotshots were committed to 73 days of fire assignments, completing 356 assessments, 56 homes were treated, 148 additional. June 30 was a Sunday, a normal Sunday for me in the summer. Steed replies in the second video, "I copy, and [the fire] almost made it to that two-track road that we walked in on.". This video captures the audio of the last three minutes of radio transmissions from the Granite Mountain Hotshots before they were entrapped by fire and kill. The photos and videos do not appear in the investigators' formal 122-page Serious Accident Investigation Report (SAIR) released to the families and public on September 28, 2013. He died along with 18 of his crew members on June 30th, 2013 while fighting the Yarnell Hill fire. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. If a picture says a thousand words, these stunning photos of the yarnell. "I felt that it was more important for them to know and for them to talk to him because all of it was coming from me as hearsay," Willis explained. At least 10 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Indonesia fuel depot fire kills 18; more than a dozen missing, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Biden had cancerous skin lesion removed last month, doctor says, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife and son, Trump met with early primary state GOP leaders, Helmet-cam videos reveal the 19 Hotshot firefighters who were killed while responding to the Yarnell wildfire last summer made several desperate radio calls for help, Hotshot firefighters made desperate radio calls for help, Juliann Ashcraft, whose husband, Andrew, died, The fire killed 19 of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, Millions of Americans nearing retirement age with no savings. From taking part in interviews to sharing stories they made sure the heroic firefighters were portrayed authentically. The full 122-page report can be found here. After spending an hour documenting all the mementos, Paul and I took an ant-free break, before heading 1.6 miles downhill, back to the trailhead at Division Well. The bottom line is, they are never coming home. "The only items that were separated from the personal belongings were cell phones," the report prepared by YCSO Detective J. McDormett states. Straight to the juniper is a 3.2 mi., 375 AEG, round trip hike. Both items ended up in the possession of family members. YCSO Lieutenant Tom Boelts and technician John File accompanied McDormett when the phones reportedly were separated from the personal effects for each hotshot, the report states. McDonough, however, never has provided sworn testimony about what he heard over the crew's radio channel in the moments leading up to the deaths. From the trailhead, the 2.85-mile path will lead you up to the observation deck. Marsh said McDonough has never talked to her about what he might have heard on the radio. I was glad my wife stayed in Phoenix, because otherwise she would have had to drop Paul & I off at the powerlines on Contreras Road, and it just got too darn hot later in the day to countenance hiking an extra 1.6 miles round trip between Contreras Road and Division Well. I picked up Paul at La Casa Prescottstyle. 0:34. The reports only were recently released. Paladini offered the following account of McDonough's story, as he says was related to him by Willis, who disagrees: While moving vehicles with the Blue Ridge crew, McDonough allegedly overheard radio traffic between Marsh and Steed, who was with 17 crew members atop a ridge that had burned days earlier. "It shows confusion and that's The 2.85-mile "Hotshots Trail" takes hikers to the Observation Deck, which overlooks the . Three years later, granite mountain hotshots memorial state park was created to remember and honor them. . Prescott Fire Chief Dan Fraijo later confirmed that all 19 were from the Granite Mountain Hotshots. heartbreaking," said Ashcraft's mother, Deborah Pfingston. Nineteen hotshot firefighters were killed, and several SUVs, or better, may easily proceed down the bumpy, rutted, lop-sided FR 38 another 0.8 miles to the trailhead at Division Well. It's already been suggested that every wildland firefighter carry a GPS unit that would allow supervisors to instantly find them in the field, and some family members of the victims are calling for better fire shelters. Some men were likely still getting into their shelters when the fire overtook them. Granite Mountain Hotshots Death Photos. They were released four months after all litigation filed by the families of hotshots seeking $237 million in damages from the state Forestry Division and Yavapai County had been settled. Burned to death with 17 crewmen under his command. On June 30, it overran and killed 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. A new twist in the death of granite mountain hotshots during 2013 yarnell hill fire. He served 23 years in the fire service, protecting land, property and most i That's what's normal now. The protective tents of high-tech fabric that each man carried were completely overcome by the intensity of this fire, which approached at about 11 mph as it overcame the team (that's 100 yards in 19 seconds). More than a year after 19 firefighters perished in the Yarnell Hill blaze, the crew's lone survivor purportedly made a shocking revelation: Granite Mountain Hotshots were ordered to leave their safe zone during a radio call between their supervisor and his chief deputy. A New Twist in the Death of Granite Mountain Hotshots During 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire. . Between 4:04 and 4:37, when they first radioed that they were in trouble, the men had no communication with supervisorsor anyone else. The team was charged with reviewing the conditions and events leading to the tragedy. Answer: I struggled with deciding to answer this question. Fallen Granite Mountain Hotshot firefighters remembered 8 years following tragedy. ", She also expressed compassion for the crew's lone survivor: "He needed to talk to people he knew. McDonough puportedly overheard radio transmissions about the crew's last movements%2C city officials say. But he told Marsh he thought it was a bad idea. Steed explained the actor who played her husband showed he wanted to stay true to who Jesse really was. https://www.facebook.com/pages/EHS-Today/66542218626?ref=ts. Eric was one of 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots who lost their lives battling the Yarnell Hill Fire on June 30, 2013. It burned at close to 2000F, forensic investigations concluded. Officials at ADOSH, the Division of Forestry and the Attorney General's Office declined comment. The state-contracted SAI report concluded that no one did anything wrong, despite the fact that 19 men died in a box canyon. The government's South Canyon Fire Investigation Report runs to 220 pages with narratives, charts, color photos . Yes. The Granite Mountain Hotshots were a group within the Prescott Fire Department whose . Paladini divulged his knowledge of the controversy after being contacted by The Republic. But Payne declined to provide the name of the supervisor overseeing the Blue Ridge crew. Republic reporter Richard Ruelas contributed to this article. 20 September, 2021. "[Checking] cell phone records in this day and age is basic.". On June 30, 2013, Eric Marsh ordered his crew, the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshots to their deaths on the. As you make your way, you will encounter 200+ stairs carved from the surrounding rock, interpretive signs, benches and 19 memorial plaques. Steed did not want the crew to leave its safe zone but subsequently relented to Marsh's order, according to the account provided by Paladini. independent local journalism in Phoenix. McDonough is the only member of the Granite Mountain Hotshots to survive the fire. Asked by phone this week to comment on McDonough's purported revelations, Blue Ridge Superintendent Brian Frisby said, "We're going to decline. A group of men known as the Granite Mountain Hotshots - a tight-knit team of experts trained to fight out-of-control wildfires - died on June 30, 2013 while battling the Yarnell Hill fire . This process is automatic. Granite mountain hotshots team leader eric marsh radioed through to let his commanders know the group had a predetermined safety zone. The Yarnell Hill Fire was a wildfire near Yarnell, Arizona, ignited by lightning on June 28, 2013. Whereupon we proceeded to play merry-go-round for a few minutes while I tried to get a shot. Selden's letter says McDonough, with Paladini as his communications liaison, agreed to be deposed because he "wants to get off his chest the burden of additional information that was not elicited during his previous interviews." There are a few small stepups, but otherwise Trail #37 is smooth tread. In the radio call, Marsh told Steed to leave the "black," which was safe, and join him at the ranch. The Blue Ridge firefighters were interviewed for a Serious Accident Investigation, conducted on behalf of the Forestry Division, but their statements were not recorded and only summaries were released to the public. Claire Caldwell's husband, Robert, was a Granite Mountain Hotshot.