How did Granite Mountain Hotshots get trapped?
The Yarnell Hill Fire was a wildfire near Yarnell, Arizona, ignited by dry lightning on June 28, 2013. On June 30, it overran and killed 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots….
| Yarnell Hill Fire | |
|---|---|
| Cause | Dry lightning |
| Buildings destroyed | 129 |
| Deaths | 19 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 23 |
Why did the fire shelters not work for Granite Mountain Hotshots?
“They were all under fire shelters and the fire shelters didn’t help them in that particular case.” With temperatures exceeding 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit with extreme turbulent air conditions, Mason notes no fire shelter could have protected that crew on June 30 of 2013.
Did the Granite Mountain Hotshots make a mistake?
The Forest Service investigation concluded that nobody did anything wrong and that all actions taken by Yarnell wildfire supervisors and the Granite Mountain crew were reasonable and appropriate.
How much heat can a fire shelter withstand?
500 degrees Fahrenheit
How do they work? Shelters reflect almost 95 percent of radiant heat, or heat coming from the sun. With direct heat in the form of flames, the shelter can withstand 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything hotter and the shelter begins to melt and no longer protects the firefighter.
How long is a fire shelter good for?
indefinite
The shelter has an indefinite shelf life because its materials do not degrade in normal storage at the fire cache. Nevertheless, all shelters should be inspected when they are issued and every 14 days during the fire season. Only serviceable fire shelters should be taken to the fireline.
What does Brendan McDonough do now?
Today he is a public speaker and works with numerous nonprofits for veterans, police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services. He lives in Prescott, Arizona. McDonough is an uplifting speaker, whose courage to find support at his weakest has inspired others to find their own tribes of support.