1 00:00:03,690 --> 00:00:13,030 On June 30th 2013 19 firefighters died 2 00:00:10,330 --> 00:00:16,810 on the Yarnell Hill fire in central 3 00:00:13,030 --> 00:00:19,090 Arizona southwest of Prescott the 4 00:00:16,810 --> 00:00:21,460 Granite Mountain interagency hotshot 5 00:00:19,090 --> 00:00:23,830 crew from the Prescott Fire Department 6 00:00:21,460 --> 00:00:28,869 was working west of Yarnell when they 7 00:00:23,830 --> 00:00:31,869 were overrun by fire within the fire 8 00:00:28,869 --> 00:00:34,860 area the terrain varies from steep 9 00:00:31,869 --> 00:00:37,570 ridges to nearly flat valley bottoms 10 00:00:34,860 --> 00:00:40,659 with numerous rock outcroppings and 11 00:00:37,570 --> 00:00:43,930 boulder piles the dominant vegetation 12 00:00:40,659 --> 00:00:47,710 type shop rope rush ranged in height 13 00:00:43,930 --> 00:00:53,949 from 1 to 10 feet and in some places was 14 00:00:47,710 --> 00:00:56,379 nearly impenetrable On June 16 2013 a 15 00:00:53,949 --> 00:00:58,589 fire behavior advisory discussed 16 00:00:56,379 --> 00:01:01,570 critically low fuel moistures and 17 00:00:58,589 --> 00:01:04,180 increased fuel loading the drought 18 00:01:01,570 --> 00:01:07,750 severity index showed the fire area as 19 00:01:04,180 --> 00:01:12,090 being in extreme drought On June 29th 20 00:01:07,750 --> 00:01:14,710 2013 one day before the entrapment 21 00:01:12,090 --> 00:01:17,290 above-average loading of cured grass and 22 00:01:14,710 --> 00:01:19,720 drought stressed fuels combined to allow 23 00:01:17,290 --> 00:01:22,780 for faster moving fires with or without 24 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:27,310 winds and for increased fire intensities 25 00:01:22,780 --> 00:01:30,100 and flame lengths the Yarnell Hill Fire 26 00:01:27,310 --> 00:01:34,750 Area had not experienced wildland fire 27 00:01:30,100 --> 00:01:37,240 since 1966 the fire started late the 28 00:01:34,750 --> 00:01:39,220 afternoon of June 28 2013 29 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:42,700 when thunderstorms moved through the 30 00:01:39,220 --> 00:01:44,909 area and ignited multiple fires the fire 31 00:01:42,700 --> 00:01:46,960 which was under the jurisdiction and 32 00:01:44,909 --> 00:01:49,900 responsibility of the Arizona State 33 00:01:46,960 --> 00:01:52,740 Forestry Division was approximately 1/2 34 00:01:49,900 --> 00:01:55,420 acre in a boulder field in steep terrain 35 00:01:52,740 --> 00:01:56,770 the state did not put firefighters on 36 00:01:55,420 --> 00:02:01,240 the hill that night due to safety 37 00:01:56,770 --> 00:02:03,190 concerns on the morning of the 29th the 38 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:05,530 type 4 incident commander orders 39 00:02:03,190 --> 00:02:08,170 retardant from single-engine air tankers 40 00:02:05,530 --> 00:02:10,629 attempting to box in the fire between a 41 00:02:08,170 --> 00:02:13,870 two-track road on the east side and the 42 00:02:10,629 --> 00:02:16,550 ridge to the north the fire had grown to 43 00:02:13,870 --> 00:02:18,470 roughly 2 acres 44 00:02:16,550 --> 00:02:20,660 a helicopter transports seven 45 00:02:18,470 --> 00:02:22,370 firefighters to the fire perimeter early 46 00:02:20,660 --> 00:02:25,430 in the day to begin constructing 47 00:02:22,370 --> 00:02:29,240 handline the fire holds well into midday 48 00:02:25,430 --> 00:02:32,900 when it's 1,600 increasing winds elevate 49 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:34,790 fire activity by early evening the fire 50 00:02:32,900 --> 00:02:38,630 jumps the two-track Road on the east 51 00:02:34,790 --> 00:02:40,930 flank and becomes a six acre fire during 52 00:02:38,630 --> 00:02:43,730 the evening the fire continues to grow 53 00:02:40,930 --> 00:02:46,550 weather conditions impede the use of 54 00:02:43,730 --> 00:02:49,100 aviation to deliver retardant when the 55 00:02:46,550 --> 00:02:51,590 fire reaches approximately 100 acres in 56 00:02:49,100 --> 00:02:54,800 size the incident command requests a 57 00:02:51,590 --> 00:02:57,200 type 2 incident management team there is 58 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:59,300 concern that people's Valli and Yarnell 59 00:02:57,200 --> 00:02:59,990 may be threatened if it burns to the 60 00:02:59,300 --> 00:03:04,300 Northeast 61 00:02:59,990 --> 00:03:04,300 in the next 24 to 48 hours 62 00:03:04,550 --> 00:03:10,220 on Sunday June 30th a 700 briefing 63 00:03:08,420 --> 00:03:12,320 occurred at the Yarnell fire station 64 00:03:10,220 --> 00:03:14,350 with the incident command members of the 65 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:17,960 incoming team and the Granite Mountain 66 00:03:14,350 --> 00:03:20,390 IHC superintendent the briefing covers 67 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:22,670 potential tactics the previous night's 68 00:03:20,390 --> 00:03:25,430 spot weather forecast and radio 69 00:03:22,670 --> 00:03:29,150 frequencies they use Google Maps on an 70 00:03:25,430 --> 00:03:31,220 iPad to review the area the Boulder 71 00:03:29,150 --> 00:03:36,230 Springs Ranch is pointed out to all as 72 00:03:31,220 --> 00:03:37,850 an excellent safety zone they discuss 73 00:03:36,230 --> 00:03:41,540 strategies for the north side of the 74 00:03:37,850 --> 00:03:44,690 fire estimated to be 300 to 500 acres 75 00:03:41,540 --> 00:03:47,990 and for keeping fire out of Yarnell by 76 00:03:44,690 --> 00:03:50,270 improving old roads they lay out a 77 00:03:47,990 --> 00:03:53,300 strategy to establish an anchor on the 78 00:03:50,270 --> 00:03:55,400 south end they also agree that the 79 00:03:53,300 --> 00:03:57,500 Granite Mountain superintendent will 80 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:59,540 take the vision alpha and that his 81 00:03:57,500 --> 00:04:03,080 assistant superintendent will run the 82 00:03:59,540 --> 00:04:05,390 crew division alphas assignment is to 83 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:07,790 establish an anchor point at the heel of 84 00:04:05,390 --> 00:04:10,160 the fire using direct or indirect 85 00:04:07,790 --> 00:04:12,650 tactics as appropriate division alpha 86 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:15,260 Scouts ahead of the crew as they hike 87 00:04:12,650 --> 00:04:17,720 about 45 minutes along the two-track 88 00:04:15,260 --> 00:04:22,520 road to the Anchor Point just below a 89 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:25,460 saddle from their division alpha Scouts 90 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:28,000 out the west side of the ridge a short 91 00:04:25,460 --> 00:04:31,010 squad of a few crew members follows him 92 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:33,320 working along the fire's edge toward a 93 00:04:31,010 --> 00:04:39,260 cold part of the fire to establish the 94 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:41,750 Anchor Point on the east side by your 95 00:04:39,260 --> 00:04:43,880 activity picks up a bit and the rest of 96 00:04:41,750 --> 00:04:47,900 the crew slowly burns off the two-track 97 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:49,880 road keeping pace with the fire as 98 00:04:47,900 --> 00:04:51,800 incoming resources arrive they are 99 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:53,750 directed to the model Creek School in 100 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:56,390 people's Valley where the incident 101 00:04:53,750 --> 00:04:58,190 command post is being established the 102 00:04:56,390 --> 00:05:01,430 incident commanders provide another 103 00:04:58,190 --> 00:05:04,300 briefing around 9:30 the formal transfer 104 00:05:01,430 --> 00:05:06,800 of command occurs by radio at 10:20 to 105 00:05:04,300 --> 00:05:09,080 several resources are immediately 106 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:11,930 assigned after the briefing to keep 107 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:13,820 homes from burning in Model Creek and an 108 00:05:11,930 --> 00:05:17,680 evacuation notice for that area is 109 00:05:13,820 --> 00:05:17,680 issued around 10:45 110 00:05:18,139 --> 00:05:23,219 during the same period the Anchor Point 111 00:05:20,729 --> 00:05:25,579 is completed by a squad of Granite 112 00:05:23,219 --> 00:05:28,499 Mountain on the west side of the ridge 113 00:05:25,579 --> 00:05:30,179 division alpha meets face to face with 114 00:05:28,499 --> 00:05:32,519 the Blue Ridge superintendent and 115 00:05:30,179 --> 00:05:35,699 assistant superintendent near the Anchor 116 00:05:32,519 --> 00:05:38,459 Point they discuss tactics problems with 117 00:05:35,699 --> 00:05:41,269 radios and placing a lookout near an old 118 00:05:38,459 --> 00:05:44,099 grader at the bottom of the slope the 119 00:05:41,269 --> 00:05:45,719 Blue Ridge supervisors leave the Anchor 120 00:05:44,099 --> 00:05:50,209 Point and deliver the Granite Mountain 121 00:05:45,719 --> 00:05:50,209 lookout at the grader at 12:39 122 00:05:52,399 --> 00:05:57,169 the fire is pushing north towards 123 00:05:55,289 --> 00:06:01,610 structures in people's Valley and 124 00:05:57,169 --> 00:06:04,169 backing at granite mountains location 125 00:06:01,610 --> 00:06:07,889 Granite Mountain reaches a rock face and 126 00:06:04,169 --> 00:06:10,769 takes lunch around 13:30 after eating 127 00:06:07,889 --> 00:06:13,289 the crew works back reinforcing their 128 00:06:10,769 --> 00:06:16,499 line as they go making sure their anchor 129 00:06:13,289 --> 00:06:18,719 is solid will look out by the grader has 130 00:06:16,499 --> 00:06:22,019 trigger points established for the crew 131 00:06:18,719 --> 00:06:25,259 and for himself in case the fire changes 132 00:06:22,019 --> 00:06:28,229 direction the Granite Mountain captain 133 00:06:25,259 --> 00:06:30,839 lookout and others talk over the radio 134 00:06:28,229 --> 00:06:32,549 about thunderstorms coming in the 135 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:37,019 captain mentions he might have seen a 136 00:06:32,549 --> 00:06:39,779 few lightning strikes in the distance at 137 00:06:37,019 --> 00:06:41,459 1402 the National Weather Service calls 138 00:06:39,779 --> 00:06:43,409 the fire to advise them that a 139 00:06:41,459 --> 00:06:46,619 thunderstorm east of the fire could 140 00:06:43,409 --> 00:06:50,099 produce wind gusts of 35 to 45 miles per 141 00:06:46,619 --> 00:06:52,409 hour this is relayed to the fire line 142 00:06:50,099 --> 00:06:57,629 but the winds from the storm did not 143 00:06:52,409 --> 00:06:59,909 develop over the fire area at 1526 the 144 00:06:57,629 --> 00:07:01,860 National Weather Service calls to advise 145 00:06:59,909 --> 00:07:03,809 the fire that the thunderstorms have 146 00:07:01,860 --> 00:07:07,469 moved north-northeast of the fire and 147 00:07:03,809 --> 00:07:09,329 that an outflow boundary has formed this 148 00:07:07,469 --> 00:07:11,069 outflow boundary is moving toward the 149 00:07:09,329 --> 00:07:13,589 fire and could potentially produce 150 00:07:11,069 --> 00:07:14,419 north-northeast winds at 40 to 50 miles 151 00:07:13,589 --> 00:07:17,369 per hour 152 00:07:14,419 --> 00:07:21,119 this message is also relate to the fire 153 00:07:17,369 --> 00:07:23,159 line Operations double-checks that 154 00:07:21,119 --> 00:07:25,649 division alpha also heard the second 155 00:07:23,159 --> 00:07:27,449 weather update the vision alpha 156 00:07:25,649 --> 00:07:29,639 acknowledges the weather update and 157 00:07:27,449 --> 00:07:31,050 mentions the winds are getting squirrely 158 00:07:29,639 --> 00:07:33,240 on the ridge but 159 00:07:31,050 --> 00:07:39,590 everyone is in the black and in a good 160 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:42,360 spot between 1530 and 1545 the fire 161 00:07:39,590 --> 00:07:46,020 experiences a gradual wind shift from 162 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:47,970 the Southwest to the west-northwest the 163 00:07:46,020 --> 00:07:49,979 fire becomes very active with some 164 00:07:47,970 --> 00:07:52,409 spotting by this time 165 00:07:49,979 --> 00:07:54,569 the two-mile flanking fire looks more 166 00:07:52,409 --> 00:07:57,659 like a head fire and is starting to move 167 00:07:54,569 --> 00:07:59,129 in a more southeasterly direction these 168 00:07:57,659 --> 00:08:03,150 wind shifts occurred ahead of the 169 00:07:59,129 --> 00:08:05,550 arrival of the outflow boundary this 170 00:08:03,150 --> 00:08:07,650 radar data was recorded as the storm 171 00:08:05,550 --> 00:08:14,729 outflow boundary arrives at the north 172 00:08:07,650 --> 00:08:16,110 end of the fire at 1618 around 1550 the 173 00:08:14,729 --> 00:08:18,240 Granite Mountain assistant 174 00:08:16,110 --> 00:08:20,460 superintendent calls the lookout to 175 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:23,039 relay the weather update the lookout 176 00:08:20,460 --> 00:08:25,080 acknowledges looks around and notices 177 00:08:23,039 --> 00:08:27,870 the fire has started building and the 178 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:29,940 wind is starting to shift he calls the 179 00:08:27,870 --> 00:08:32,190 assistant superintendent and says the 180 00:08:29,940 --> 00:08:35,640 fire has hit his trigger point and he's 181 00:08:32,190 --> 00:08:37,829 moving back to the old grader area the 182 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:42,630 assistant superintendent replies calmly 183 00:08:37,829 --> 00:08:44,219 okay cool the Blue Ridge superintendent 184 00:08:42,630 --> 00:08:46,709 picks up the Granite Mountain lookout 185 00:08:44,219 --> 00:08:49,560 near the old grader and delivers him to 186 00:08:46,709 --> 00:08:51,720 the vehicles the Blue Ridge 187 00:08:49,560 --> 00:08:53,700 superintendent then goes for more 188 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:56,339 drivers to get the rest of the vehicles 189 00:08:53,700 --> 00:08:58,440 moved on the way out for moving all of 190 00:08:56,339 --> 00:09:00,720 the vehicles the structure protection 191 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:02,700 group supervisor contacts the Blue Ridge 192 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:05,820 superintendent to ask if the dozer line 193 00:09:02,700 --> 00:09:08,910 is still an option to burn out from the 194 00:09:05,820 --> 00:09:11,100 answer is no division alpha hearing the 195 00:09:08,910 --> 00:09:12,990 transmission agrees and says the fire 196 00:09:11,100 --> 00:09:18,000 has reached the area where granite 197 00:09:12,990 --> 00:09:21,390 mountains crew carriers were a moment 198 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:22,860 later division alpha says I want to pass 199 00:09:21,390 --> 00:09:27,240 on that we're going to make our way to 200 00:09:22,860 --> 00:09:29,579 our escape route Blue Ridge tries to 201 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:32,519 clarify it by asking you guys are in the 202 00:09:29,579 --> 00:09:34,769 black correct division alpha Response 203 00:09:32,519 --> 00:09:37,140 yeah we're picking our way through the 204 00:09:34,769 --> 00:09:39,890 black and then mentions a road in the 205 00:09:37,140 --> 00:09:42,420 bottom and going out toward the ranch 206 00:09:39,890 --> 00:09:44,700 Blue Ridge thinks division alpha is 207 00:09:42,420 --> 00:09:47,910 talking about heading northeast through 208 00:09:44,700 --> 00:09:51,000 old black to a ranch there he asks 209 00:09:47,910 --> 00:09:52,440 division alpha to confirm you're talking 210 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:56,100 about the road you saw me on with the 211 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:58,920 UTV earlier in the bottom division alpha 212 00:09:56,100 --> 00:10:01,730 replies yes the road I saw you on with 213 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:01,730 the UTV 214 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:08,720 from this point on granite mountains 215 00:10:06,410 --> 00:10:11,390 motivation and path were unknown to all 216 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:14,270 resources on the fire and we will never 217 00:10:11,390 --> 00:10:17,210 know their exact route the available 218 00:10:14,270 --> 00:10:19,400 information interviews times evidence of 219 00:10:17,210 --> 00:10:24,050 probable route and best probable routes 220 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:25,730 suggest the following after 1604 the 221 00:10:24,050 --> 00:10:27,500 crew began moving from the flank of the 222 00:10:25,730 --> 00:10:30,950 fire where they had been working near 223 00:10:27,500 --> 00:10:32,840 the anchor point they traversed the 224 00:10:30,950 --> 00:10:35,180 two-track Road near the top of the ridge 225 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:38,990 and proceeded south along the ridge 226 00:10:35,180 --> 00:10:41,180 until they reached a saddle as they 227 00:10:38,990 --> 00:10:44,360 traveled along the ridge they had full 228 00:10:41,180 --> 00:10:44,870 view of the fire when they reached the 229 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,480 saddle 230 00:10:44,870 --> 00:10:49,850 they had a direct and clear view of the 231 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:53,360 boulder Springs Ranch which appears to 232 00:10:49,850 --> 00:10:55,640 be very close as they start to drop down 233 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:58,340 from the saddle their view of the fire 234 00:10:55,640 --> 00:11:02,300 was rapidly cut off until it disappeared 235 00:10:58,340 --> 00:11:04,150 completely the outflow boundary reached 236 00:11:02,300 --> 00:11:07,430 the southern perimeter of the fire at 237 00:11:04,150 --> 00:11:09,910 16:30 it caused a drastic increase in 238 00:11:07,430 --> 00:11:13,790 wind speed and a shift in wind direction 239 00:11:09,910 --> 00:11:15,740 driving the fire south the primary fire 240 00:11:13,790 --> 00:11:18,650 spread Direction changed to the south 241 00:11:15,740 --> 00:11:20,660 fire intensities and resulting flame 242 00:11:18,650 --> 00:11:24,410 lengths doubled while rates of spread 243 00:11:20,660 --> 00:11:27,770 tripled the fire made a major run into 244 00:11:24,410 --> 00:11:29,990 the town of Yarnell the fire in the flat 245 00:11:27,770 --> 00:11:32,120 terrain east of the origin was affected 246 00:11:29,990 --> 00:11:34,190 by these changes in a dramatic way it 247 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:35,990 moved from along the base of the main 248 00:11:34,190 --> 00:11:38,840 ridge and reached the bottom of a bowl 249 00:11:35,990 --> 00:11:41,330 1/2 mile south southeast of the origin 250 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:43,970 from there the head split into two heads 251 00:11:41,330 --> 00:11:46,040 the southern had entered the unnamed 252 00:11:43,970 --> 00:11:48,260 drainage referred to as the middle Bowl 253 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:51,290 the northern head continued burning 254 00:11:48,260 --> 00:11:53,120 along the base of the ridge Granite 255 00:11:51,290 --> 00:11:55,460 Mountain worked their way down the slope 256 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:57,350 through the boulders and brush until the 257 00:11:55,460 --> 00:12:01,220 flaming front cut them off from their 258 00:11:57,350 --> 00:12:03,230 escape route to the ranch the second 259 00:12:01,220 --> 00:12:05,780 head of fire burning along the base of 260 00:12:03,230 --> 00:12:09,380 the slope rounded a knoll composed of 261 00:12:05,780 --> 00:12:11,510 granite boulders once past the knoll the 262 00:12:09,380 --> 00:12:14,840 fire accelerated as it entered the bowl 263 00:12:11,510 --> 00:12:17,840 Granite Mountain was hiking down rate of 264 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:22,430 spread is estimated at 10 to 12 265 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:24,170 per hour it is estimated that the time 266 00:12:22,430 --> 00:12:26,930 between the siting of the fire front 267 00:12:24,170 --> 00:12:29,150 from the deployment site to the time the 268 00:12:26,930 --> 00:12:32,630 fire reached the deployment site was 269 00:12:29,150 --> 00:12:35,750 less than two minutes Granite Mountain 270 00:12:32,630 --> 00:12:38,980 made several radio transmissions before 271 00:12:35,750 --> 00:12:38,980 deploying fire shelters 272 00:12:44,230 --> 00:12:46,290 you 273 00:13:17,590 --> 00:13:23,230 easm to instructs the very large 274 00:13:20,410 --> 00:13:24,940 airtanker veal at that is over the fire 275 00:13:23,230 --> 00:13:27,310 to orbit to the southeast 276 00:13:24,940 --> 00:13:31,540 until the ASM to locates Granite 277 00:13:27,310 --> 00:13:33,820 Mountain over the next four minutes ASM 278 00:13:31,540 --> 00:13:36,610 to makes seven attempts to reach Granite 279 00:13:33,820 --> 00:13:42,610 Mountain to determine their location but 280 00:13:36,610 --> 00:13:45,100 is unable to establish contact upon 281 00:13:42,610 --> 00:13:46,810 hearing of the deployment dispatch and 282 00:13:45,100 --> 00:13:50,680 resources on the fire immediately 283 00:13:46,810 --> 00:13:53,620 initiate a Medical Response Blue Ridge 284 00:13:50,680 --> 00:13:57,060 IHC and other firefighters begin a 285 00:13:53,620 --> 00:14:01,300 ground search for Granite Mountain at 286 00:13:57,060 --> 00:14:03,160 seventeen sixteen Ranger 58 in Arizona 287 00:14:01,300 --> 00:14:05,770 Department of Public Safety helicopter 288 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:06,840 assigned to the fire launches to assist 289 00:14:05,770 --> 00:14:09,310 in the search 290 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:13,650 Ranger 58 spots the Granite Mountain 291 00:14:09,310 --> 00:14:16,390 shelters at 1810 and lands nearby an 292 00:14:13,650 --> 00:14:18,940 officer paramedic hikes to the 293 00:14:16,390 --> 00:14:22,230 deployment site and confirms that none 294 00:14:18,940 --> 00:14:22,230 of the firefighters survived 295 00:14:26,700 --> 00:14:31,600 this tragedy occurred 296 00:14:29,020 --> 00:14:33,700 at mountain IHC was traveling through an 297 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:36,130 unburned area on a route towards a 298 00:14:33,700 --> 00:14:40,860 safety zone when a rapidly advancing 299 00:14:36,130 --> 00:14:44,260 fire of great intensity overtook them 300 00:14:40,860 --> 00:14:46,660 the fires extreme speed of 10 to 12 301 00:14:44,260 --> 00:14:49,149 miles per hour eliminated the crews 302 00:14:46,660 --> 00:14:53,500 options of reaching the safety zone or 303 00:14:49,149 --> 00:14:55,270 returning up to the canyon rim this left 304 00:14:53,500 --> 00:14:57,430 the crew less than two minutes to 305 00:14:55,270 --> 00:15:02,620 improve a shelter deployment site by 306 00:14:57,430 --> 00:15:04,540 using chainsaws and burning out the crew 307 00:15:02,620 --> 00:15:06,850 was deploying their fire shelters close 308 00:15:04,540 --> 00:15:10,510 together in a small area when the fire 309 00:15:06,850 --> 00:15:13,270 overtook them the deployment site in the 310 00:15:10,510 --> 00:15:15,550 box canyon was not survivable because 311 00:15:13,270 --> 00:15:19,120 heavy brush caused direct flame contact 312 00:15:15,550 --> 00:15:21,459 and temperatures exceeded 2,000 degrees 313 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:25,209 Fahrenheit as the fire swept through the 314 00:15:21,459 --> 00:15:26,830 site the team developed a few 315 00:15:25,209 --> 00:15:28,959 conclusions based on available 316 00:15:26,830 --> 00:15:31,740 information from personnel on the fire 317 00:15:28,959 --> 00:15:34,930 physical evidence cultural knowledge 318 00:15:31,740 --> 00:15:38,020 observations and subject matter expert 319 00:15:34,930 --> 00:15:40,630 sessions the Granite Mountain IHC was a 320 00:15:38,020 --> 00:15:44,170 fully qualified staffed and trained 321 00:15:40,630 --> 00:15:46,390 hotshot crew they were current with the 322 00:15:44,170 --> 00:15:50,350 required training and met work rest 323 00:15:46,390 --> 00:15:52,810 guidelines the Yarnell Hill area having 324 00:15:50,350 --> 00:15:55,329 not seen wildfire in over forty five 325 00:15:52,810 --> 00:15:57,880 years was primed to burn because of 326 00:15:55,329 --> 00:16:01,980 extreme drought decadent chaparral and 327 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:04,990 above-average cured grass loadings 328 00:16:01,980 --> 00:16:07,690 although Yavapai County had a community 329 00:16:04,990 --> 00:16:09,459 wildfire protection plan many of the 330 00:16:07,690 --> 00:16:11,740 structures were not defendable by 331 00:16:09,459 --> 00:16:15,790 firefighters responding to the Yarnell 332 00:16:11,740 --> 00:16:18,970 Hill Fire the fire destroyed over 100 333 00:16:15,790 --> 00:16:21,520 structures radio communications were 334 00:16:18,970 --> 00:16:23,050 challenging throughout the incident some 335 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:25,570 radios were not programmed with 336 00:16:23,050 --> 00:16:27,880 appropriate tone guards crews identified 337 00:16:25,570 --> 00:16:30,610 the problem engaged in troubleshooting 338 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:33,220 and developed workarounds so they could 339 00:16:30,610 --> 00:16:34,959 communicate using their radios radio 340 00:16:33,220 --> 00:16:39,010 traffic was heavy during critical times 341 00:16:34,959 --> 00:16:40,650 on the fire the fire's complexity 342 00:16:39,010 --> 00:16:42,740 increased in a very short time 343 00:16:40,650 --> 00:16:45,110 challenging all firefighting 344 00:16:42,740 --> 00:16:48,890 resources to keep pace with the rapidly 345 00:16:45,110 --> 00:16:50,779 expanding incident as complexity 346 00:16:48,890 --> 00:16:53,240 dramatically increased starting Saturday 347 00:16:50,779 --> 00:16:55,700 evening fire management went through 348 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:58,610 multiple transitions from a type four 349 00:16:55,700 --> 00:17:03,980 through a type 1 incident in fewer than 350 00:16:58,610 --> 00:17:05,839 20 hours the Granite Mountain crew had 351 00:17:03,980 --> 00:17:08,569 been watching the active fire burn away 352 00:17:05,839 --> 00:17:10,429 from their position all day but their 353 00:17:08,569 --> 00:17:12,140 observations did not lead them to 354 00:17:10,429 --> 00:17:15,470 anticipate the approaching outflow 355 00:17:12,140 --> 00:17:18,380 boundary or the accompanying significant 356 00:17:15,470 --> 00:17:20,209 fire behavioral changes these changes 357 00:17:18,380 --> 00:17:22,880 including a doubling of fire intensity 358 00:17:20,209 --> 00:17:25,880 and flame lengths a 90 degree 359 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:30,470 directional change and dramatically 360 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:33,440 accelerated rate of spread the Granite 361 00:17:30,470 --> 00:17:36,170 Mountain IHC left the lunch spot and 362 00:17:33,440 --> 00:17:38,540 traveled southeast on the two-track Road 363 00:17:36,170 --> 00:17:40,370 near the ridge top then they descended 364 00:17:38,540 --> 00:17:42,559 from the two-track road and took the 365 00:17:40,370 --> 00:17:45,380 most direct route towards Boulder 366 00:17:42,559 --> 00:17:47,600 Springs Ranch the team believes the crew 367 00:17:45,380 --> 00:17:51,260 was attempting to reposition so they 368 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:52,929 could re-engage Granite Mountain IHC did 369 00:17:51,260 --> 00:17:55,300 not perceive excessive risk in 370 00:17:52,929 --> 00:17:58,280 repositioning to Boulder Springs Ranch 371 00:17:55,300 --> 00:18:00,980 there is no indication but they doubted 372 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:02,660 the black was a valid safety zone or 373 00:18:00,980 --> 00:18:04,520 that they moved to the boulder Springs 374 00:18:02,660 --> 00:18:07,510 Ranch because they feared for their 375 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:11,300 safety if they stayed in the black in 376 00:18:07,510 --> 00:18:14,240 retrospect the importance of the 1526 377 00:18:11,300 --> 00:18:15,830 weather update is clear however the 378 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:17,750 update appears to have carried the less 379 00:18:15,830 --> 00:18:20,390 relevance in the crews decision-making 380 00:18:17,750 --> 00:18:23,720 process perhaps due to the wind shift 381 00:18:20,390 --> 00:18:26,300 starting at about 1550 that preceded the 382 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:28,250 outflow boundary or because of the time 383 00:18:26,300 --> 00:18:32,030 it took the outflow boundary to reach 384 00:18:28,250 --> 00:18:33,740 the south end of the fire at 16:30 it is 385 00:18:32,030 --> 00:18:36,200 possible they may have interpreted the 386 00:18:33,740 --> 00:18:40,400 early wind shift as the anticipated wind 387 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:43,040 event an air attack and/or an aerial 388 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:44,780 supervision module provided aerial 389 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:47,290 supervision coverage throughout the day 390 00:18:44,780 --> 00:18:50,600 including at the time of the accident 391 00:18:47,290 --> 00:18:52,460 during some limited times aircraft were 392 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:56,150 not available due to adverse weather 393 00:18:52,460 --> 00:18:58,700 conditions and refueling needs 394 00:18:56,150 --> 00:19:01,240 at the time of the deployment the dc-10 395 00:18:58,700 --> 00:19:03,980 air tanker was on station over the fire 396 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:06,580 waiting to drop on the location of the 397 00:19:03,980 --> 00:19:08,990 deployment site once it was found 398 00:19:06,580 --> 00:19:11,330 although much communication occurred 399 00:19:08,990 --> 00:19:13,100 among crews throughout the day few 400 00:19:11,330 --> 00:19:16,520 people understood granite mountains 401 00:19:13,100 --> 00:19:19,300 intentions movements and location once 402 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:19,300 they left the black 403 00:19:23,740 --> 00:19:29,720 the deep sense of loss here is 404 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:32,210 unimaginable the investigation team and 405 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:34,279 the wildland fire community stands 406 00:19:32,210 --> 00:19:37,090 together with the families of the 407 00:19:34,279 --> 00:19:42,309 Granite Mountain interagency hotshots 408 00:19:37,090 --> 00:19:49,669 grieving heartbroken devastated our 409 00:19:42,309 --> 00:19:51,980 brothers sons dads they're gone the 410 00:19:49,669 --> 00:19:54,559 current generation of firefighters has 411 00:19:51,980 --> 00:19:57,139 never experienced the tragedy such as 412 00:19:54,559 --> 00:20:01,000 Yarnell Hill and the loss of the Granite 413 00:19:57,139 --> 00:20:04,639 Mountain crew on that last day in June 414 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:08,600 the families and firefighters alike want 415 00:20:04,639 --> 00:20:12,320 answers to understand to make sense of 416 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:14,299 this terrible outcome there is a gap of 417 00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:18,259 over 30 minutes in the information 418 00:20:14,299 --> 00:20:19,970 available for Granite Mountain IHC no 419 00:20:18,259 --> 00:20:23,809 crew members from the deployment site 420 00:20:19,970 --> 00:20:26,320 survived we will never know specifically 421 00:20:23,809 --> 00:20:30,279 why the crew took the actions they did 422 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:33,379 nor the thought processes they employed 423 00:20:30,279 --> 00:20:36,309 many discussion points go unanswered in 424 00:20:33,379 --> 00:20:39,159 the report their situational awareness 425 00:20:36,309 --> 00:20:43,549 decision-making route of travel and 426 00:20:39,159 --> 00:20:46,159 motivation family members firefighters 427 00:20:43,549 --> 00:20:48,500 and many others will continue to pour 428 00:20:46,159 --> 00:20:51,740 over the circumstances of this tragedy 429 00:20:48,500 --> 00:20:54,080 for years to come much thought and 430 00:20:51,740 --> 00:20:58,429 analysis will go into reviewing this 431 00:20:54,080 --> 00:21:02,539 accident to understand to learn and to 432 00:20:58,429 --> 00:21:06,529 make sense of how and why this account 433 00:21:02,539 --> 00:21:11,769 the loss of 19 firefighters our brothers 434 00:21:06,529 --> 00:21:11,769 is not complete and it never will be