Prescott Honors Granite Mountain Hotshots 5 Years Later
It was a tragedy that the community of Prescott will never forget. On June 30th, 2013, nineteen members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots died fighting the Yarnell Hill wildfire. The fast-moving wildfire burned 8,400 acres, destroyed 127 structures and forced hundreds of residents to flee for their lives. It was the deadliest day in wildland firefighting in generations. The lives of these heroes were unexpectedly cut short and are still mourned and remembered.
At 4:42 p.m. Saturday, June 30, a memorial bell cut through the silence of the courthouse plaza, honoring the fallen 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots killed five years ago fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire, ringing once for each name:
Andrew Ashcraft, Robert Caldwell, Travis Carter, Dustin DeFord, Christopher MacKenzie, Eric Marsh, Grant McKee, Sean Misner, Scott Norris, Wade Parker, John Percin Jr., Anthony Rose, Jesse Steed, Joe Thurston, Travis Turbyfill, William Warneke, Clayton Whitted, Kevin Woyjeck, and Garret Zuppiger.
“Today is a time of remembrance, it’s about honoring the service, lives and sacrifice of the Granite Mountain 19 Hotshots who lost their lives five years ago,” shared Prescott Fire Chief, Dennis Light “Let’s not re-live the pain, suffering and emotional trauma from five years past, but instead, let’s work towards a firesafe community for our citizens and most importantly for our firefighters.”
“They were some of the bravest, most courageous, hardest working men that we will ever know,” said Mayor Greg Mengarelli. “These men stood for everything good and right in our community. They were people that we would want to emulate. They are men that we would want our sons and daughters to emulate. We are so fortunate to have known them.”
We at Crystal Creek Builders are proud to be a part of the Prescott community and stand behind the families of the fallen Granite Mountain 19 Hotshots with support and love.
Crystal Creek Builders
www.crystalcreekhomes.com
928-445-3200
