NEW MEXICO'S FIREFIGHTING COMMUNITY IS MOURNING THE LOSS OF THE 19 FIREFIGHTERS KILLED BATTLING A WILDFIRE IN YARNELL, NEAR PRESCOTT, ARIZONA. THE GRANITE MOUNTAIN HOT SHOTS HAD BEEN ASSIGNED TO THE THOMPSON RIDGE FIRE IN THE JEMEZ MOUNTAINS JUST LAST MONTH BEFORE BEING SENT TO HELP FIGHT THE FIRE IN ARIZONA.
SPOKESPERSON CELINA WESTERVELT SAYS THE SANTA FE FIRE DEPARTMENT KNEW THE CREW WELL. THEY TRAINED ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE TEAM AND ALSO WENT TO PRESCOTT. WESTERVELT SAYS THE HOT SHOT CREW LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION IN THE CITY OF SANTA FE AND THROUGHOUT NEW MEXICO.
FLAGS WILL BE FLYING AT HALF STAFF ACROSS NEW MEXICO THIS WEEK IN HONOR OF THE 19 FIREFIGHTERS KILLED IN YARNELL SUNDAY. GOVERNOR MARTINEZ MADE THE ORDER MONDAY. STATE FLAGS WILL FLY AT HALF-STAFF UNTIL SUNSET FRIDAY.
