19 Firefighters killed in Arizona

Nineteen firefighters tragically died in the line of duty on June 30, 2013, in a fire near Yarnell, Arizona.

The men were members of the Prescott Fire Department, Arizona.  They were called the Granite Mountain Hotshots.

Granite Mountain Hotshots - undated photo

The fire started on June 28, 2013 and spread across eight square kilometres amid triple-digit temperatures, low humidity and windy conditions. Officials ordered the evacuations of 50 homes in several communities, and on the afternoon of June 30, the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office expanded the order to include more residents in Yarnell, a town of about 700 residents about 136 kilometres northwest of Phoenix.

When a thunder cell passed over, the fire blew up. Wind gusts of 40-50 mph occurred. The fire trapped the men who deployed their fire shelters at about 5:55 p.m.

About an hour later, all 19 were found deceased.

The deceased are:

Saint Florian, Patron Saint
of Firefighters, pray for
these men.

Garret Zuppiger, age 27; Kevin Woyjeck, age 21; Clayton Whitted, age 28;  William Warneke, age 25; Travis Turbyfill, age 27; Joe Thurston, age 32; Jesse Steed, age 36; Anthony Rose, age 23; John Percin, age 24; Wade Parker, age 22; Scott Norris, age 28; Sean Misner, age 26; Grant McKee, age 21; Eric Marsh, age 43; Christopher MacKenzie, age 30; Dustin Deford, age 24;  Travis Carter, age 31; Robert Caldwell, age 23; Andrew Ashcraft, age 29

Pray for all who die in the line of duty. They are the unsung heroes of our world. Amen. 

Pray for the loved ones of these men. They have suffered an unspeakable loss. Amen. 

Pray that all of these men are in heaven. Pray that they are at peace and are with God. Amen.