President Chuck Anderson of the Wallowa Lake Rural Fire Protection Distrtict issued this statement on Monday, July 1:
Those of us dedicated to fire protection know the dangers inherent in firefighting. Every time there's a call for service, firefighters realize there's a chance they won't return home, no matter how fit, well trained and well equipped they are.
Usually an emergency incident results in no or few injuries, but not on Sunday, June 30, in Arizona.
Wildland firefighters are trained to watch for danger, stay in communication, be aware of the weather and leave themselves an escape route. But even those precautions don't guarantee safety because a wildland fire can be unpredictable.
Even so, for 19 members of a 20-member elite unit of a fire department to lose their lives together – the depth of the loss is almost impossible to grasp. At Wallowa Lake and the neighboring City of Joseph, the loss of 19 firefighters would devastate us. In addition to the sorrow and pain, we'd be left with no one to respond to an emergency – no one.
We are 1,100 miles from Prescott, Arizona, where the Granite Mountain Hotshots lived and served. Yet the loss hits home. It's a reminder of the enormous commitment of our volunteer firefighters – our friends and neighbors who will show up whenever we need them.
We join with all those in the fire service across the U.S. who mourn and express our sincere condolences to the families of the bravest of the brave.
Whenever you see a firefighter, say thanks. He or she might show up at your house tomorrow.
This loss also is a reminder that a wildland fire is the biggest possible threat to the Wallowa Lake basin. Keep your weeds cut, abide by all fire restrictions and talk to anyone you see who is doing anything that could be dangerous.
Usually an emergency incident results in no or few injuries, but not on Sunday, June 30, in Arizona.
Wildland firefighters are trained to watch for danger, stay in communication, be aware of the weather and leave themselves an escape route. But even those precautions don't guarantee safety because a wildland fire can be unpredictable.
Even so, for 19 members of a 20-member elite unit of a fire department to lose their lives together – the depth of the loss is almost impossible to grasp. At Wallowa Lake and the neighboring City of Joseph, the loss of 19 firefighters would devastate us. In addition to the sorrow and pain, we'd be left with no one to respond to an emergency – no one.
We are 1,100 miles from Prescott, Arizona, where the Granite Mountain Hotshots lived and served. Yet the loss hits home. It's a reminder of the enormous commitment of our volunteer firefighters – our friends and neighbors who will show up whenever we need them.
We join with all those in the fire service across the U.S. who mourn and express our sincere condolences to the families of the bravest of the brave.
Whenever you see a firefighter, say thanks. He or she might show up at your house tomorrow.
This loss also is a reminder that a wildland fire is the biggest possible threat to the Wallowa Lake basin. Keep your weeds cut, abide by all fire restrictions and talk to anyone you see who is doing anything that could be dangerous.
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