Yarnell Hill Fire Tragedy - June 30, 2013

Overview

• Incident: Yarnell Hill fire in central Arizona, southwest of Prescott.
• Date: June 30, 2013.
• Casualties: 19 firefighters from the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew.
• Location: West of Yarnell.
• Terrain: Steep ridges and flat valley bottoms with rock outcroppings.
• Vegetation: Chaparral brush, ranging from 1 to 10 feet, nearly impenetrable in places.

Fire Conditions Leading to the Tragedy

• June 16, 2013: Advisory on critically low fuel moistures and increased fuel loading.
• Drought Severity: Extreme drought conditions.
• June 29, 2013: Above-average loading of cured grass and drought-stressed fuels.
• Fire History: Area not burned since 1966.
• Start of Fire: June 28, 2013, due to thunderstorms igniting multiple fires. Initial size was approximately 1/2 acre.
• June 29, 2013: Fire grew to an extent that necessitated a Type 2 incident management team.

Events on June 30, 2013

• Morning Briefing: Discussion on tactics and strategies, use of Google Maps, and identification of Boulder Springs Ranch as a safety zone.
• Firefighting Strategy: Division Alpha tasked with establishing an anchor point at the heel of the fire.
• Weather Conditions: Thunderstorm forecasts and outflow boundary warnings, leading to wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph.
• Fire Activity Increase: Gradual wind shift causing increased fire activity.

The Entrapment

• Movement of Granite Mountain Crew:
  • Moved from flank along top ridge to a saddle.
  • Lost direct view of the fire.
  • Fire spread direction changed to south with increased intensity.
• Deployment Site: Attempted shelter deployment in a box canyon.
• Fire Speed: Estimated at 10-12 mph, overtaking crew within two minutes.
• Communication: Multiple radio calls, but no successful contact with Granite Mountain before deployment.

Analysis and Conclusions

• Crew Status: Fully qualified, trained, and current with requirements.
• Area Conditions: Extreme drought, with highly flammable vegetation.
• Radio Communications: Challenging, with heavy traffic and programming issues.
• Fire Behavior: Complexity increased rapidly beyond capacity to react.
• Decision Making: Granite Mountain did not perceive excessive risk moving to Boulder Springs Ranch.
• Weather Updates: A critical update at 1526 did not significantly influence decision-making.

Impact

• Loss of Life: 19 Firefighters. 1 Survivor (Lookout, not in the same location as the deployment.)
• Structural Damage: Over 100 structures destroyed.

Reflection

• This incident leaves many questions unanswered, particularly surrounding the motivations and decisions of the Granite Mountain crew.
• The tragedy has deeply impacted the firefighting community and the families of the deceased, prompting ongoing analysis and reflection.