By admin 
PRESCOTT, AZ (AZFamily) — Arizona is honoring the 19 beloved Granite Mountain Hotshots as Tuesday, June 30 marks the 13th anniversary of the Yarnell Hill Fire.
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Gov. Katie Hobbs has ordered flags at all state buildings to be lowered to half-staff on Tuesday from sunrise to sunset to in remembrance of the Hotshots.
“Hotshot crews take on dangerous and difficult firefighting to keep Arizona communities safe. We recognize and honor the sacrifice and bravery of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. This will always be a day we mark with mourning, reflection, and deep admiration for the members of this crew, their families, and the wildland firefighting community,” the governor said in a statement.
Remembrance Ceremonies
Arizonans honored the Hotshots at the 13th anniversary remembrance ceremony on Monday, June 29 at the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew Learning and Tribute Center, located off Highway 69 in Prescott.
The ceremony began with a performance by the Central Arizona Pipe and Drum Corps, followed by a bell ringing and reading of the names. Prescott Fire Chief Holger Durre and other city officials spoke in honor of the fallen men.
Arizona State Parks is also hosting a remembrance ceremony on Tuesday in downtown Yarnell beginning at 4:15 p.m.
Yarnell Hill Fire
The 19 men died while battling the Yarnell Hill Fire on June 30, 2013, making it the sixth deadliest firefighter disaster in history. The Hotshots were crossing the eastern edge of a canyon when the fire expanded into the area. Sadly, the hotshots lost communication shortly afterward, and all men lost their lives.
The blaze erupted to nearly 8,500 acres, damaging 130 buildings and leaving over 20 people hurt. It took two weeks for fire crews to gain full control of the fire.
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There were a total of 20 Granite Mountain Hotshots. Brendan McDonough was the sole survivor after he was separated from the group to act as a fire lookout. Read more about each hotshot here.
The Fallen Heroes
- Andrew Ashcraft, 29
- Robert Caldwell, 23
- Travis Carter, 31
- Dustin DeFord, 24
- Christopher MacKenzie, 30
- Eric Marsh, 43
- Grant McKee, 21
- Sean Misner, 26
- Scott Norris, 28
- Wade Parker, 22
- John Percin, Jr., 24
- Anthony Rose, 23
- Jesse Steed, 36
- Joe Thurston, 32
- Travis Turbyfill, 27
- William Warneke, 25
- Clayton Whitted, 28
- Kevin Woyjeck, 21
- Garret Zuppiger, 27
Granite Mountain Hotshots Legacy
Since the Hotshots’ passing, tributes across the state keep their memory alive. The Prescott tribute center displays thousands of memorial items from the days and weeks following the tragedy and also serves as a resource for wildland fighting.
The city of Prescott dedicated a memorial at the Yavapai County Courthouse to honor the memory of the fallen firefighters.
Many have traveled to Yarnell to visit the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park to pay respects to the fallen men. A three-mile path leads from the parking lot on Highway 89 to an observation deck. The hike down the Memorial Trail leads to where the men made their last stand.
Several movies and documentaries have been made about the Hotshots and the Yarnell Hill Fire, including the film “Only the Brave.” McDonough also published a book, titled, “My Lost Brothers: The Untold Story by the Yarnell Hill Fire’s Lone Survivor.”
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