Annie GoodykoontzArizona Republic
Prescott officials held a ceremony on Sunday dedicating a memorial statue to the 19 firefighters who were killed in the Yarnell Hill Fire, on the tragedy's 11-year anniversary.
The Dedication of the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial occurred at 3:45 p.m. on Sunday at the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza.
"The City of Prescott and the Prescott Fire Department will officially thank the committee that worked for over 10 years on the memorial statue, which will forever honor our fallen heroes," the Prescott Fire Department said in a Facebook post.
The ceremonies were livestreamed and can be viewed on the City of Prescott's Facebook and YouTube pages.
Yavapai County Board of Supervisors Chairman Craig Brown recounted the feelings he felt 11 years ago, when he received the call about the tragedy.
"I had thought about the families of the 19 and how they were going to need every ounce of compassion and caring a county or town could manage," he said. "Even this state and country would never know or feel their total loss and pain."
John Marsh, father of Eric Marsh, commander of the hotshot crewmember killed in the Yarnell Hill Fire, spoke of the lasting impact this statue will have on the community of Prescott.
"As a family member, I realize that sometimes a memorial is a reminder of a tragedy and loss," he said. "But we can take comfort in the fact that for many years to come, thousands of people will have observed this memorial. They will reflect on it, and they will share our loss."
Deborah Fellows, artist of the statue, explained her vision for each element of the project. She said that the 17-foot granite piece standing behind the firefighter symbolized the smoke of a wildfire.
The soft gaze of the firefighter, cast in bronze, was meant to depict a sense of vulnerability and innocence. The names of the firefighters killed were listed boldly on the granite, beside the firefighter.
Fellows said she ultimately wanted the statue to be a place of healing for the families and communities affected by this tragedy.
"I've come and gone from Prescott so many times over the last six years that this project has lasted. Today I'm leaving and it's finally yours," she said. "I will leave today knowing a part of my heart is left right here."
Prescott Fire Chief Holger Durre spoke of the collective responsibility the community has to visit the memorial and reflect on the tragedy.
"Eleven years ago, there were a multitude of feelings, and conflicts and even deep shame for many of us," Durre said.
"With the dedication of this memorial, I'm calling on all of us to use it as a symbol of our unity, and not our division. Grief is only valuable when it has purpose."
Granite Mountain Hotshots memorialized 10 years after fire killed 19
Hundreds gather in Prescott to honor the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots killed in the Yarnell Hill Fire 10 years ago.
Patrick Breen, Arizona Republic
After the ceremony, a commemoration took place at the memorial site on Cortez between Union and Goodwin.
A bell rung 19 times at 4:42 p.m. in honor of the 19 firefighters killed in the fire.
What was the Yarnell Hill Fire?
The Yarnell Hill Fire was a wildfire that occurred in the city of Yarnell in Yavapai County in June 2013. The fire started after lightning struck a mountain ridge and grew quickly due to dry conditions in the area.
The fire burned more than 8,300 acres total and forced about 700 residents to evacuate the town.
The Granite Mountain Hotshots, a wildland firefighting crew based out of the Prescott Fire Department, worked to contain the fire as it spread. But on June 30, firefighters moved from a burned-over safety zone to another southeast safety zone.
While on the way to their destination, changes in wind and speed caused the fire to quickly advance south. This blocked the firefighters' escape routes and caused the death of 19 firefighters.
Who were the Granite Mountain Hotshots?
The Granite Mountain Hotshots were members of a wildland firefighting crew based out of the Prescott Fire Department. The group began as a fuels management crew in 2001 whose job it was to reduce the growth of fire-prone vegetation and create defensible space around buildings.
In 2004, the crew also started to respond to wildfires regionally and nationally. In 2008, it gained interagency hotshot crew trainee status and became the Granite Mountain Hotshots. Hotshot wildland firefighters are considered the special forces of firefighting, elite teams of about 20 firefighters who battle large, high-priority fires.
The Granite Mountain Hotshots had fought several wildfires in 2013 before the Yarnell Hill Fire ignited.
Who were the men who died?
- 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, 33
- Travis Turbyfill, 27
- William Warneke, 26
- Clayton Whitted, 28
- Kevin Woyjeck, 21
- Garret Zuppiger, 27
Reporter Sarah Lapidus contributed to this article.
Annie Goodykoontz is a reporter from The Arizona Republic. You can reach her at AGoodykoontz@ganett.com.
