ABSTRACT
June 30, 2013, was another hot day in a demanding fire season in Arizona for the Granite Mountain (GM) Hotshot crew. The crew members were experienced but tired when they arrived at the Yarnell Fire Station early in the morning to assist with a nearby fire and had worked 28 out of 30 days fighting wildfires. After consulting with local officials, the crew had a look at the fire. The front of the fire was 1.5 miles long, but 45 minutes later, the fire had grown to 1,500 acres and was spreading rapidly. Additional air support was requested for the fire control operation, but a shortage of aircraft meant only two of four aircraft requested arrived by noon to coordinate the operation and drop fire retardant.
