We present a follow-up to our coverage of the memorial service that was held in Prescott, AZ, on July 9, 2013, for the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots firefighters who were killed in the line of duty in Yarnell on June 30 (see “19 Firefighters Killed in Yarnell, AZ, Wildfire” in Firehouse®, August 2013). Thirteen of the 19 firefighters were seasonal employees; a dispute has arisen regarding benefits paid to the widows and families of the firefighters. Those city benefits are apparently different because of the job titles. Petitions were being circulated to allow the widows and families to collect what the full time employees were to receive. At least one state legislator has proposed a law to retroactively cover the 13 firefighters whose benefits were denied from state funds.
The 19 firefighters who died are: Andrew Ashcraft, 29, Robert Caldwell, 23, Travis Carter, 31, Dustin Deford, 24, Christopher MacKenzie, 30, Eric Marsh, 43, Grant McKee, 21, Sean Misner, 26, Scott Norris, 28, Wade Parker, 22, John Percin Jr., 24, Anthony Rose, 23, Jesse Steed, 36, Joe Thurston, 32, Travis Turbyfill, 27, William Warneke, 25, Clayton Whitted, 28, Kevin Woyjeck, 21 and Garret Zuppiger, 27.
—Harvey Eisner
