Burns, lack of oxygen killed Hotshots
PRESCOTT, Ariz. — The 19 firefighters killed over the weekend in an Arizona blaze died of burns and inhalation problems, according to initial autopsy findings released Thursday.
Cari Gerchick, a spokeswoman for the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office in Phoenix, said the Hotshots died from burns, carbon monoxide poisoning or oxygen deprivation, or a combination of the factors. The autopsies were performed Tuesday, but more detailed autopsy reports should be released in three months, pending lab work.
The bodies of the Prescott-based Hotshots will be taken back to the hilltop community in a 75-mile procession from Phoenix on Sunday. Each firefighter will be in an individual hearse, accompanied by motorcycle escorts, honor guard members and American flags.
A memorial service is planned for Tuesday.
The f irefighters had deployed Sunday to what was thought to be a manageable lightning-caused forest fire near Yarnell, about 60 miles northwest of Phoenix.
Violent winds turned the fire and trapped the highly trained Hotshots, who deployed their fire shelters, which can briefly protect people from blazes. It was the nation’s biggest loss of firefighters since 9/11.
A team of forest managers and safety experts is investigating what went wrong and plan to release some initial findings by the weekend.
Nearly 600 firefighters continue to fight the blaze, and officials hoped to have it up to 85 percent contained by Thursday night.