Monday, July 1, 2013

Granite Mountain Hot Shots Tribute


We were horrified and heart broken to hear that nineteen members of the Granite Mountain "Hot Shot" fire crew were caught in a fire which was blasting out of control in a forest near Phoenix, Arizona.  Caught by the approaching flames this group of elite firefighters employed their emergency fire shelters.  The blaze took the lives of all nineteen of these brave souls.

This loss hits close to home.  One of these men was an alumnus of my own high school in West Linn, Ore.  John Percin, Jr., a 24-year-old firefighter was among those who lost their lives.  It is a small world and my heart and prayers go out to his family.

Prescott Fire Chief Dan Fraijo said the nineteen firefighters were a part of the city's own fire department.  "We grieve for the families. We grieve for the department. We grieve for the city," he said at a news conference Sunday evening. "We're devastated. We just lost 19 of the finest people you'll ever meet."

Our tears--our hearts and prayers go out to the families and friends of these brave firefighters.  God bless you dear ones.

2 comments:

Terra said...

The painting of the weeping angel says it all.

Irene said...

Truly a tragedy.