Bullhead City, AZ – Representative Paul Gosar, DDS (AZ-04) issued the following statement after introducing the Granite Mountain Hotshots Commemorative Coin Act, legislation that honors the 19 firefighters who lost their lives fighting the 2013 Yarnell Hill wildfire through the creation of commemorative coins.

“On June 30, 2013 the lives of 19 elite Granite Mountain Hotshot firefighters were lost battling a wildfire in Yarnell, Arizona. To this day, words cannot express my sadness to the families of these brave first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting our community. Their complete selflessness and courage to answer the call of duty when we needed them most are eternal. Their spirit to boldly act and protect the defenseless will never perish.

Although nothing will ever replace the husbands, fathers and sons that were lost, I am humbled to introduce the Granite Mountain Hotshots Commemorative Coin Act to honor the firefighters who gave their lives battling the wildfire.

I will certainly remember this horrible tragedy for the rest of my life and this commemorative coin is a small but fitting way to memorialize and cherish the lives of these brave heroes,” concluded Congressman Gosar.

Background:

The Yarnell Fire began when lightning struck approximately 30 miles southwest of Prescott, Arizona off Highway 89 on June 28, 2013. The blaze burned approximately 8,400 acres and damaged more than 1,000 structures over a fifteen day period.

During the disaster, nineteen firefighters from the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew lost their lives battling the fire.  Known as “Hotshots,” these firefighters were specially trained to fight wildfires.  The Granite Mountain Hotshots were members of the Prescott Fire Department.

Those who lost their lives to contain the fire were:

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, 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

This was the the deadliest wildfire ever in Arizona. Additionally, June 30, 2013, yielded the largest loss in a single day of firefighter life since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

The text of the Granite Mountain Commemorative Coin Act can be found here.