Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement honoring the lives of the 19 elite Granite Mountain Hotshot firefighters who were killed one year ago in the Yarnell Hill Fire:
“To this day, words cannot express my sadness and the depth of my condolences to the families of the 19 brave first responders who gave their lives protecting our community. I will certainly remember this horrible tragedy for the rest of my life as well as the public memorial service which was attended by more than 1,200 members of our community.
“These brave men made the ultimate sacrifice fighting to protect our citizens and for that we will be eternally grateful. Even though a year has passed, please continue to keep the families of these hotshot firefighters in your prayers. I remain optimistic that above all else, the heroic actions of the Granite Mountain Hotshots will continue to inspire our leaders to make the necessary changes to prevent future devastation and destruction. We owe nothing less to these heroes.”
The video of Congressman Gosar’s speech on the House floor honoring the 19 Hotshot firefighters can be found HERE.
Background:
The Yarnell Fire began when lightning struck approximately 30 miles southwest of Prescott, Arizona off Highway 89 on June 28, 2013. The blaze burned approximately 8,400 acres and damaged more than 1,000 structures over a fifteen day period.
During the disaster, nineteen firefighters from the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew lost their lives battling the fire. This was the sixth deadliest American firefighter disaster overall and the deadliest wildfire ever in Arizona. Additionally, June 30, 2013, yielded the largest loss in a single day of firefighter life since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
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