Author Topic: Radio problems cited in deaths of 19 firefighters  (Read 656 times)

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Offline flowers

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Radio problems cited in deaths of 19 firefighters
« on: September 28, 2013, 06:16:53 pm »
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PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) — A three-month investigation into the June deaths of 19 firefighters killed while battling an Arizona blaze cites poor communication between the men and support staff, and reveals that an airtanker carrying flame retardant was hovering overhead as the men died.

The 120-page report released Saturday found that all procedures were followed and assigned little of blame for the worst firefighting tragedy since Sept. 11, 2001.

All but one member of the Granite Mountain Hotshots crew died June 30 while protecting the small former gold rush town of Yarnell, about 80 miles northwest of Phoenix, from an erratic lightning-sparked wildfire.

While maintaining that all guidelines were followed, the investigation found improperly programmed radios, vague updates, and a 30-minute communication blackout just before the flames engulfed the men.

The report provides the first minute-to-minute account of the fatal afternoon. The day went according to routine until the wind shifted, pushing a wall of fire that had been receding from the hotshots all day back toward them.

After that, hotshots failed to communicate their intentions to the command center outside the burn zone. Their colleagues thought the hotshots had decided to wait out the weather change in the safety of an already blackened area.

http://www.chron.com/news/science/article/Radio-problems-cited-in-deaths-of-19-firefighters-4852623.php


Offline truth_seeker

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Re: Radio problems cited in deaths of 19 firefighters
« Reply #1 on: September 28, 2013, 06:59:26 pm »
The radio issue was reported at the time. I have a client who knew a couple of the dead Hotshots.

But beyond the radio issue, it was a flawed decision of too much risk, to put them into such an uncertain situation, IMO.
"God must love the common man, he made so many of them.�  Abe Lincoln