They sound like they were very fine young men. Their loss is the greatest loss of life in wildfire fighting since 1933.
My father was long captain of the volunteer fire department, and I've fought some brushfires with them on a few occasions -- nothing like the fires out West, but hot enough to jump a fire break plowed with a bulldozer. What these men did was a work of courage and honor.
May they rest in peace.
4 comments:
Amen, Grim.
This was a very hard article to read this morning. Having been in their situation and been fortunate enough to survive (although my boots did not), I can only hope their passing was quick and painless....although, sadly, I fear those who were found outside their shelters were not so fortunate.
RIP, Granite Mountain Hotshots. Today is a sad day, indeed.
Rough news indeed. I knew we'd be saluting them here as soon as I heard the news. One survivor- it will be tough especially on that one- special prayers for 'the one' on top of the praters for the 19 and their friends and family. SoCal has ties to at least four of the victims, and it might be surprising to learn that the 1933 incident that was referred to here was in Griffith Park- right in the middle of Los Angeles- 29 dead in that one. I remember reading a compelling account of the 1994 Storm King Mountain incident that killed 14 (35 survivors). It really portrayed the incredibly frightening experience of trying to shelter in place against a massive wild fire. I think it was an excerpt from this book- Fire on the Mountain".
Brave and selfless men. Well said.
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