19 firefighters die battling Ariz. blaze
YARNELL, Ariz. — A fast-moving wildfire killed 19 firefighters Sunday afternoon after the blaze raced through an Arizona community, a state forestry official told The Associated Press.
Forestry spokesman Art Morrison said the specially trained “hot-shot” firefighters were caught by the fire near the central Arizona town of Yarnell about 85 miles northwest of Phoenix. He said the firefighters were forced to deploy their fire shelters, tent-like structures meant to shield firefighters from flames and heat.
“The entire hot-shot crew had been killed by the fire,” said Prescott Fire Chief Dan Fraijo. He said the firefighters had to deploy the emergency shelters when “something drastic happened.”
The crew killed in the blaze had worked other wildfires in recent weeks in New Mexico and Arizona. The unit was established in 2002.
Earlier Sunday, the 2,000-acre wildfire prompted evacuations of 50 homes in several communities.
Later Sunday afternoon, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office expanded the evacuations to include in the Peeples Valley area and more residents in the town of Yarnell.
Morrison said several homes in the community of Glenisle have been burned.
He said no other injuries or deaths have been reported from that area.
About 200 firefighters are fighting the wildfire, which has also forced the closure of parts of state Route 89. The department did not have an estimate of how long the closure would last but advised drivers to use U. S. 93 or Interstate 17 as alternate routes. An additional 130 firefighters and more water- and retardant-dropping helicopters and aircraft are on their way.
Mike Reichling, Arizona State Forestry Division spokesman, told The Arizona Republic the fire that they’re calling in federal help to fight the fire.
Roxie Glover, spokeswoman at Wickenburg Community Hospital, said they have been told to expect people with injuries.
The Red Cross has opened a shelter at Yavapai College in Prescott, the sheriff’s office said.
The fire started Friday but picked up momentum Sunday as the area experienced high temperatures, low humidity and windy conditions.
In another Arizona fire, a 2-acre blaze that started at a motorcycle salvage yard and spread to a trailer park has destroyed five mobile homes in the Gila County community of Rye, located more than 130 miles east of Yarnell.
Gila County Health and Emergency Services Director Michael O’Driscoll said no one was injured in Rye.
The fire was ignited Saturday night at All Bikes Sales located off Highway 87. It spread to neighboring federal Forest Service land but was fully contained within 12 hours of its start
Seven adults and two children were staying at a shelter set up for people who were evacuated, the Red Cross said.