1 Jul 2013

Arizona firefighter deaths ‘heartbreaking’ says Obama

US President Barack Obama describes the deaths of 19 members of an elite firefighting force, killed as they battled wildfires in Arizona, as ‘heartbreaking’.

The men were all members of a “hotshot” elite force – and were trying to get the fast-moving blaze under control. However the flames suddenly moved, trapping them in the midst of the intense heat. It is the deadliest American fire tragedy involving firefighters in 80 years.

Mr Obama, speaking during a press conference in Tanzania (video, below), said: “Obviously the news is heartbreaking and our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the brave firefighters who were out there.

“This is one more reminder of the fact that our first responders they put their lives on the line every single day. Every time we have a community in crisis, a disaster strikes, we’ve got people in need – fire fighters, law enforcement officers, they run towards the danger.

“So, we are heartbroken about what has happened. Obviously we’re prepared to provide any support we can in investigating how exactly this took place. I think we’re going to have ask ourselves a set of broader questions about how we are handling increasingly deadly, and difficult, firefights.”

‘Very bad situation’

Michael Riechling, from the Arizona state forestry division, told reporters: “The fields were very dry, the relative humidity was low, the winds were coming out of the south. It turned around on us because of the monsoon action this afternoon. They were just caught up in a very bad situation.”

Some of the men had managed to deploy their emergency fire shelters, but they were overcome by the scale of the blaze.

In a statement released during his trip to Africa, President Obama decribed the men as heroes, who had selflessly put themselves in harm’s way. “Michelle and I join all Americans in sending our thoughts and prayers to the families of these brave firefighters”, he said.

Hundreds of homes and businesses were also destroyed as the wildfire tore through the towns of Yarnell and Glen Isla, just over 85 miles northwest of Phoenix. Local fire chief Dan Fraijo said: “The entire fire department, the entire area, the entire state is being devastated by the magnitude of this incident.”

When a tragedy like this strikes, all we can do is offer our gratitude to the fallen. Arizona governor Jan Brewer

It is the worst disaster of its kind in the US since 1933, and Arizona’s worst ever firefighting tragedy, said officials. Arizona’s governor Jan Brewer will tour the area on Monday – and could declare a special session of the local legislature to approve emergency funding to help the victims.

“When a tragedy like this strikes, all we can do is offer our eternal gratitude to the fallen”, she said.

It is still too early to confirm what caused the blaze, which spread rapidly in the triple-digit temperatures of the intense heatwave which has gripped the western United States.

Dangerous work

Local residents said the men who died had been involved in tackling other wildfires over the last few weeks. Their unit, the Granite Mountain Hotshots, was involved in highly dangerous work – hiking into woodland to build physical barriers, protecting people from fires.

Fire chief Fraijo said they would only have put up their emergency shelters as a last resort. “Under certain conditions, there’s… sometimes a 50 per cent chance that they survive”, he told the AP. “It’s an extreme measure that’s taken under the absolute worst conditions”.

President Obama said the federal government was providing all neccessary help to local and state officials, while other politicans promised to lend support. Arizona Senator John McCain called it a “devastating loss”, adding: “Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”