Blame Placed For 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots That Were Killed

A recent fire investigation points blame in the deaths of the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots that were killed in this years Arizona blaze.

The report that came on Wednesday, December 5th 2013, places blame on the Arizona Forestry Division for the death of 19 of 20 Granite Mountain Hotshots as they battled the Yarnell Hill fire. In fact, they are the only Hotshot crew that is actually run by a city.

The commission reported,

... state fire officials knowingly put protection of property ahead of safety and should have pulled crews out earlier.

The city was fined $559,000 and other sanctions, citations and fines were recommended as well. Each family will receive $25,000 each from that amount. Former Chief Dan Fraijo oversaw the city's regular fire department and the Granite Mountain Hotshots and left by mutual agreement on November 15th, 2013.