Fellow firefighters honor fallen brothers killed in Arizona wildfire

In Prescott, Arizona, firefighters began to bring home the bodies of 19 fallen co-workers who were killed in a wildfire a week ago in Yarnel Hill. On Sunday, they began the 125- mile trip from Phoenix to Prescott with funeral processions to follow.

Firefighters and police officers saluted and gave their respects as the 19 hearses, with the names of the deceased firefighters posted on the sides, drove by.

A large fire in Yarnel Hill, Arizona on June 28 was caused by lightning and fed by violent winds. The town was evacuated, but the fire still burned through more than 100 homes and about 13 sq. miles of land. While trying to maintain the flames, unpredictable winds took the firefighters by surprise and trapped 19 of them in the line of the fire. This is essentially what took their lives.

According to AZ Central, this specific group of firefighters are called The Granite Mountain Hotshots. They’re from the Prescott Fire Department, but go out of their way to help out with any fires in the state or surrounding states.

The Washington Post reports that the Phoenix-area fire chief, Paul Bourgeois, explained the tradition of fellow firefighters never leaving the side of their fallen companions.

“Since they were discovered, they have never been out of the presence of a brother firefighter. That’s something people don’t realize. We never leave your side,” Bourgeois said. “It’s a comfort to the survivors, whether they’re families or fellow firefighters.”

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