More than 1,000 people packed an Arizona university gym to honour the bravery and sacrifice of 19 elite firefighters who died battling the state's Yarnell Fire. Those in the crowd rocked children in their arms, wiped away tears and applauded robustly after each set of remarks, often rising to their feet. Speakers quoted heavily from scripture and described the "Hotshot" firefighters' deaths as Christ-like. Prescott Fire Chief Dan Fraijo spoke in a shaky voice and paused frequently. He said the firefighters' families, the Prescott Fire Department, the city of Prescott, the state of Arizona and the nation had all lost. At the end of the ceremony, dozens of firefighters sporting...
↧