
In the end, the wildland firefighting community continues to prioritize firefighter safety but has seen moderate, not sweeping, changes in operations. The incident forced vital discussions about wildland firefighting strategies and tactics, ultimately resulting in a comprehensive investigation report. The magnitude of the loss prompted countless discussions and questions about whether this tragedy could have been prevented – how, by whom? Fire service leaders, plus family and community members, shared their grief.

The fire forever changed the physical landscape of the area, but also solidified the resilience of area residents and the wildland firefighting community. fire service since the September 11 terrorist attacks. The Yarnell Hill Fire that erupted through the mountain community of Yarnell, Arizona, claimed the lives of 19 firefighters in 2013, the greatest loss of life for the U.S.


Seminal incidents can break or transform a community – even an entire industry.
