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Arizona Wildfire Kills 19 Firefighters

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In this 2012 photo provided by the Cronkite News, the Granite Mountain Hotshot crew clears a fire line through the forest. On Sunday, June 30, 2013. (Connor Radnovich/Cronkite News via AP)
In this 2012 photo provided by the Cronkite News, the Granite Mountain Hotshot crew clears a fire line through the forest. On Sunday, June 30, 2013. (Connor Radnovich/Cronkite News via AP)
Portrait of the Granite Mountain Hotshots from the Prescott, Ariz. city web site.
Portrait of the Granite Mountain Hotshots from the Prescott, Ariz. city web site.

Nineteen elite firefighters died yesterday while battling a fast-moving wildfire in Yarnell, northwest of Phoenix, Ariz.

The firefighters belonged to the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew in Prescott, Ariz.

One member of the 20-person crew survived and has been hospitalized.

"We're devastated. We just lost 19 of the finest people you'll ever meet," said Prescott Fire Chief Dan Fraijo.

The fire was started by lightning on Friday.

Guest:

  • Peter O'Dowd, news director for KJZZ, a member of the Here & Now Contributor Network. He tweets @odowdpeter.

This segment aired on July 1, 2013.

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