Young Men and Fire, A Race Against Time!

August 5, 1949 wildland firefighters called smoke jumpers parachute into Mann Gulch in Helena Montana to suppress a  lightning sparked wildfire. It was a hot 97 degree afternoon with turbulent winds blowing up from the Missouri River, the fire danger scale was at 74; 74 brands out of 100 would start new fires in light flashy fuels. Norman Maclean published manuscript depicts Wagner Dodge and his crews fate in the Book Young Men and Fire. As the crew tried to hike in to make indirect attack down a long chute, they are over taken by fire in a blow up at 5:56 PM. It is estimated that 3,000 acres burned in 10 minutes, no man could outrun this type of fire.

July 6,1994 the South Canyon Fire took the lives of 14 wildland firefighters on Storm King Mountain, near Glenwood Springs, Colorado. It is often also referred to as the "Storm King" fire a small lightning strike that burns out of control when the wind pick up in intensity. Firefighters would once again run from perilous flames up a steep gulch lined in Gambel Oak near the town of Glenwood Springs Colorado. Author John Maclean writes about this crew in a book titled Fire on the Mountain, a well written book with tragic similarities to his fathers publication.

In July of 2013, I unfortunately record tragedy, as it has struck at the Granite Mountain Hotshots in the small town of Yarnell Arizona. Once again a lightning sparked wildfire was blown out of control by fierce winds that overtook 19 men on a steep mountainside in light flashy fuels. There was no where to escape, no where to find refuge from torrential and deadly fingers of flame.

Once more we are called to remember a crews bravery and a horrific account of intolerable loss. These men died trying to save the towns of Yarnell and Peeples Valley in AZ. There is no greater Love than to lay down your life in a selfless sacrifice to save lives and property for complete strangers. The hotshots hiked into a fire where every one else was fleeing, no questions asked.

America took notice of theses hometown heroes, their sacrifice and their families losses Tuesday in a public service in Prescott Valley. Over 6,000 people came from Coast to Coast to pay their respects.

A sea of firefighters came in dress black, blue, green, and tan uniforms, it did not matter what color of fabric, nor agency patch nor badge or rank, it was an impressive show of solidarity, connected by a common thread that binds us all, fire.

Firefighters came from California to Florida, Oregon to New York, and our neighbors to the north from British Columbia. Firefighters will all types of experience, wildland firefighters, structural firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics and law enforcement officers.

The memorial service planned to perfection, hopefully was a step in the right direction to start the recovery and healing process that I am all too familiar with. I know the families have unbearable grief to contend with. Women have lost husbands, children have lost fathers, mothers and fathers have lost their sons, sisters have lost brothers. It is a tragic ending to a tale of disproportionate size.

The Vice President of The United States, Joe Biden, Senators, Governor Jan Brewer, the Mayor and other distinguished public sector personnel where in attendance. The entire town stopped to pay their respects, flag strewn streets and memorabilia lining the fence of the hot shot base were in full display. It was truly a heroes tribute to behold.

Honor guards saluted the families on their departure as we wish them our most solemn condolences and we thank them for their son's sacrifice. Private funerals an interments started yesterday.

Photos copyright Jeff Zimmerman.