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Clayton Whitted

In a photo provided by the Rio Grande National Forest, firefighting personnel at the West Fork Complex Incident Command in Del Norte, Colo., observe a moment of silence early Monday morning, July 1, 2013, for fellow firefighters killed Sunday fighting a wildfire in Yarnell, Ariz. The out-of-control blaze killed 19 firefighters, nearly all of them members of an elite crew of "hotshots," authorities said Monday. It was the nation's biggest loss of firefighters in a wildfire in 80 years. (AP Photo/Rio Grande National Forest, West Fork Complex, Andy Lyon)
Jul 1, 2013

Portable shelters couldn’t save 19 Arizona firefighters

Trapped by a wildfire that exploded tenfold in a matter of hours, a crack team of firefighting "Hotshots" broke out their portable emergency shelters and rushed to climb into the foil-lined, heat-resistant bags before the flames swept over them.

Phillip Maldonado, a squad leader with the Granite Mountain Hotshots, helps crew member learn the finer points of setting up emergency fire shelters. Training is key as the crew prepares for what’s expected to be a busy wildfire season. (Cronkite News Service photo by Connor Radnovich)
Jul 1, 2013

For hotshot firefighting crews, preparing for the worst is a way of life

Nineteen members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, based in Prescott, Ariz., were killed Sunday evening when a windblown wildfire overcame them north of Phoenix. It was the deadliest single day for U.S. firefighters since Sept. 11. Fourteen of the victims were in their 20s. This article from June 2012 highlights the training and dedication of the firemen on this elite crew.

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