In Memory of the Granite Mountain Hotshot Crew

See the Facebook Page in their Memory - CLICK HERE

We have written about big wildfires this year - the Black Forest Fire and the Powerhouse Fire.

But last night (June 30, 2013) we all witnessed the worst news of all ... 19 Wildland Firefighters were killed battling a wildfire in Arizona.

They were from the Prescott Fire Department, specifically the Granite Mountain Hotshot Crew.

They were fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire.

They were digging a fire line and building a safety zone with an escape route.  But unfortunately, their safety zone and escape route were overtaken by the fire.

The outpouring of love and support for these brave firefighters and their families has been powerful.

Just 15 hours ago a Facebook page was established in their memory.  That page has over 200,000 'Likes' already.  And that number is rapidly growing.

This is the largest loss of Firefighters since 9/11.

This is the largest loss of Wildland Firefighters since 1933.

Our hearts, thoughts and prayers sincerely go out to the families and friends of these courageous Hotshots.

Credit: Julie Jacobson/AP

Black Forest Fire : UPDATE

Credit: Helen Richardson/Denver Post

Last week we reported on the new worst wildfire in Colorado history - the Black Forest Fire of 2013.

It surpasses the Waldo Canyon Fire of 2012.

As of June 17, 2013 here's an update on the Black Forest Fire...

• 75% contained
• 14,280 acres burned (22 sq mi)
• 457 firefighters involved
• 483 homes destroyed
• 2 people dead
• 38,000 people evacuated from 13,000 homes across 147 sq miles

Obviously the best news is that Wildland Firefighters have brought this blaze to 75% containment.

Credit: Helen Richardson/Denver Post

Credit: Helen Richardson/Denver Post

Credit: Helen Richardson/Denver Post

Credit: Helen Richardson/Denver Post

Credit: Hyoung Chang/Denver Post

Credit: John Wark/Denver Post

Credit: Hyoung Chang/Denver Post

Credit: AAron Ontiveroz/Denver Post

Credit: Rick Wilking/Reuters

Credit: Helen Richardson/Denver Post

Credit: Helen Richardson/Denver Post

Black Forest Fire

Credit: Peter McElvoy

Last year at this time we were talking about the worst wildfire in Colorado history.

The Waldo Canyon Fire burned for 17 days.  Here's what happened...

• 18,247 acres burned (29 sq mi)
• 32,000 residents were evacuated
• 346 homes were destroyed
• 2 people were killed
• $353 million in insurance claims were filed

This year its the Black Forest Fire, burning out of control.  In just 2 days...

• 15,000 acres have burned (23 sq mi)
• 38,000 residents are evacuated
• 360 homes have been destroyed

Black Forest 2013 will certainly pass Waldo Canyon 2012 to become the new "worst wildfire in Colorado history."

We are grateful to the Wildland Firefighters and Hot Shots battling this blaze.  We hope for full containment, soon!

Here are photos of the Black Forest Fire

Credit: Brennan Linsley/AP

Credit: CBS

Credit: Brennan Linsley/AP

Credit: Mark Reis/Colorado Springs Gazette/MCT via Getty

Credit: Helen Richardson/Denver Post via Getty 

Credit: Helen Richardson/Denver Post via Getty 

Credit: AP

Powerhouse Fire

Our main office for Public Safety Stores is 25 miles north of Downtown Los Angeles, in Santa Clarita.

For over a week the Powerhouse Fire has been burning just a few miles north of us, leaving us at times under a cloud of thick smoke as Wildland Firefighters and Hot Shots douse the flames.

It is now 83% contained.  But it took...

• 53 structures, including 24 homes
• over 30,000 acres
• almost 2,000 personnel

Here are some photos to tell the story

Jonathan Alcorn/Reuters

David McNew/Getty

David McNew/Getty

David McNew/Getty

David McNew/Getty

David McNew/Getty

David McNew/Getty

David McNew/Getty

David McNew/Getty

David McNew/Getty

We are personally grateful to the nearly 2,000 Firefighters who fought this blaze!  THANK YOU!!

Images from the Colorado Wildfires

This year was predicted to be an active wildfire season.  It is delivering early and often.  New Mexico saw its largest wildfire in state history.  Now the state of Colorado is under significant siege by wildfires of "epic proportions."  And much of the states of Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Utah are under red flag warnings.

The numbers are stunning... 100s of thousands of acres burned... 10s of thousands of residents evacuated... 1000s of wildland firefighters deployed... 100s of structures destroyed.

But the images are staggering....

  

UPDATE: Southwest Wildfires

In our continuing look at this increasingly active wildfire season, we bring you up-to-date on the many wildfires burning across the Southwest.

Large incident wildfires are currently burning in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and California.  The high heat and tremendous winds are contributing to a rapid spread of these fires.

Hundreds of structures have been destroyed.  Thousands of residents and visitors have been evacuated. And hundreds of wildland firefighters are battling these blazes.

The 2011 wildfire season burned 8.7 million acres - making it the 3rd most destructive wildfire season in the last 50 years.  We all hope 2012 will not be a record-breaker.  But instead of waiting to find out, prepare now by stocking up on essential wildland fire gear!