Part 2 of 5 - Underneath every simple, obvious story about ‘human error,’ there is a deeper, more complex story - a story about the system in which people work. Will these formerly unrevealed public records change the account of what occurred on June 30, 2013? - B
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12 - KJV)
Views expressed to "the public at large” and "of public concern"
DISCLAIMER: Please fully read the front page of the website (link below) before reading any of the posts ( www.yarnellhillfirerevelations.com )
The authors and the blog are not responsible for misuse, reuse, recycled and cited and/or uncited copies of content within this blog by others. The content even though we are presenting it public if being reused must get written permission in doing so due to copyrighted material. Our sincerest apologies for the delays. These posts were due out in August 2019 yet we had WIX.com website research a matter, and we are now finally able to rebuild the pages and make them "live." This extensive post may offend some due to the time of the year, however, we must stay the course to release information because more is yet to come out in future posts. To avoid such offense to some, please avoid further reading the posts until you find a proper reflective time for yourself. I did ask many people who were affected by this tragic Yarnell Hill Fire event and they said it was okay to post it this weekend. I know some people would not want any of this out at any time, yet I also know too many for "mental health" reasons need this out ASAP. Again - please avoid reading any further if you are unable to handle "sensitive material." Thank you.
'The restrictions on testimony by employees of USDA, for the issuance of subpoena regulations and on the production by such employees of official records in their custody based is on the primary case authority of United States ex. rel. Touhy v. Ragen, 340 U.S. 462, 95 L. Ed. 417 (1951). In Touhy, the United States Supreme Court held that an agency has the authority to restrict, by regulations, the testimony of its employees, and that a Federal employee may not be compelled to obey a subpoena contrary to supervisor's instructions issued pursuant to valid agency regulations.'
The following USDA Memorandum of Law letter excerpt is particularly harsh: "In any case in which an employee of the Department of Agriculture is denied authority by the head of the employing agency to appear in response to a subpoena, the employee is prohibited, under penalty of disciplinary action, from testifying or producing records. See § 1.218 of the regulations." (emphasis added)
In other words, NO USDA USFS employees were ever allowed to be interviewed or questioned by the SAIT or the ADOSH Investigators due to these regulations. And many otherwise "Public Records" were ever provided to the SAIT or the ADOSH Investigators as well. However, BLM employees were allowed to be interviewed, such as DIVS Z Rance Marquez, Dan Philbin (DIVS), Paul Lenmark (Air Attack - AA), and Rusty Warbis (AA).
As noted in the USDA letter "A particularly thorough discussion of these principles, dealing with cases in which the United States is not a party, is found in Exxon Shipping v. Dept. of Interior, 34 F.3d 774; Boron Oil Co. v. Downie, 873 F.2d 67 (4th Cir. 1989)" and the link for this case is here. (emphasis added)
What follows in the next three paragraphs is a noteworthy Federal Lawyer (March 2013) article titled "Sixty Years of Touhy" that further brings both Touhy and the Federal Housekeeping Statute into view and clarification as key to why they were not allowed by the USFS to be interviewed by with investigation team.
"This article explores 60 years of Touhy by first describing the legal background that led to Touhy. In the second section it relates the essentials of Touhy and its practical effects in subsequent administrative regulations and lawsuits. The third section describes the 1958 congressional legislative response to Touhy, and the very limited results of that legislation. The fourth section outlines how the majority of federal courts have looked to the U.S. Code for jurisdictional and statutory guidance on the boundaries of the “housekeeping privilege,” which is based entirely on legislative acts dating back to 1789. The fifth section describes the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth and District of Columbia (D.C.) Circuits decisions and a few academic articles which have assumed that federal judges must have the power to finally determine all questions of privilege, and have therefore insisted on judicial means for enforcement of subpoenas, despite Touhy. (emphasis added)
"The concluding section argues the point that judges are not endowed by the U.S. Constitution or the U.S. Code with the authority to independently and finally determine all questions of privilege, regardless of circumstances. At present, the U.S. Code empowers the heads of federal agencies to make initial determinations regarding the release of agency records and subjects those determinations to judicial review under circumstances and standards defined by the same code. (emphasis added)
"Unless the determinations of privilege violate a statutory or constitutional standard, federal judges do not have inherent authority to overrule lawful executive branch or congressional determinations of privilege. Section VI argues that generalized notions of judicial supremacy should not be substituted for express statutory authority to determine privilege." (emphasis added)
These Touhy and Federal Housekeeping subjects are addressed in depth in the above paper as well in the recent June 19, 2019, YHF Revelations post (below) titled: "Why was it that the SAIT and ADOSH investigators were able to interview BLM employees but unable to interview U.S. Forest Service employees to obtain critical Yarnell Hill Fire Human Factors information?" ( https://www.yarnellhillfirerevelations.com/single-post/2019/06/13/Why-was-it-that-the-SAIT-and-ADOSH-investigators-were-able-to-interview-BLM-employees-but-unable-to-interview-US-Forest-Service-employees-to-obtain-critical-Yarnell-Hill-Fire-Human-Factors-information )
Consider now a brief (three images) discussion and exposure of the disparate treatment provided by the USFS regarding the Aerial Firefighting Utilization and Effectiveness (AFUE) study Public Records records on the June 30, 2013, YH Fire.
Figure 38. PDF JPEG image of a brief history (right) of the Aerial Firefighting Utilization and Effectiveness (AFUE) study records on the June 30, 2013, YH Fire, including a retired Hot Shot Supt. FOIA Requests for the June 30, 2013, YH Fire AFUE records contained within a 3-ring binder. Involved Agency colleagues turned Quisling and betrayed him by lying in his subsequent coached and coerced Declaration (below). A June 16, 2016, USFS Southwestern Region letter (left) to Joy A. Collura regarding her detailed April 2015 FOIA Request for the June 30, 2013, YH Fire AFUE records specifically contained within a "3-ring binder" Source: Joy A. Collura FOIA Request (2016-FS-R3-04243-F)
The left USFS document image is a PDF JPEG image of my USFS FOIA Request for the AFUE records, including reference to a 3-ring binder. A brief history (right text) of the Aerial Firefighting Utilization and Effectiveness (AFUE) study records on the June 30, 2013, YH Fire, is in order in more detail here as follows: (1) On July 1, 2013, an AFUE Team Leader gave a 'hard drive' of the June 30, 2013, YH Fire AFUE recordings to a 'SAIT team member;' (2) how the USFS then admitted to ABC News Investigative Reporter James Meeks, learned of an AFUE Study Group in Yarnell on June 30, 2013, ‘recording data’ and filed numerous FOIA Requests; (3) the Collura AFUE FOIA Request was partially fulfilled with some key revealing records having probative value; (4) while other FOIA Requesters were denied and told there were "no records responsive to your request;" (5) I filed a USFS (April 2015) FOIA Request for the June 30, 2013, YH Fire AFUE records specifically requesting those contained within a "3-ring binder;" and (6) a former USFS Hot Shot Supt. also filed an AFUE FOIA Request (YH Fire) based on a fellow USFS Hot Shot Supt. colleague telling him that he possessed the 'AFUE record transcripts in a 3-ring binder.'
The first former USFS Hot Shot Supt. eventually filed a Federal lawsuit in the link that immediately follows ( http://foiaproject.org/case_detail/?title=on&style=foia&case_id=30561 ) for the USFS failure to release the June 30, 2013, YH Fire AFUE records. The second former USFS Hot Shot Supt. that initially had the 3-ring binder transcripts, repeatedly verbally assured the lawsuit attorneys that he was willing to testify in court if needed to get the truth out; and he did so in a verbal Declaration on the AFUE 3-ring binder issue. Eventually, the USFS pressured him enough to submit a written Declaration for the USFS, countering his previous verbal Declaration (see below in Figure 38 b. ). By this time, he had then clearly folded on his earlier AFUE stance. Therefore, the alleged Hot Shot "Brother" turned Quisling, betraying him. See the following link for the genesis of the term Quisling. ( https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vidkun-Abraham-Lauritz-Jonsson-Quisling )
Consider now the progression of USFS Hot Shot Supt. Whitney's willing to waffling stance on the YH Fire AFUE 3-ring binder Public Record containing crucial transcripts of recorded documentation concerning the GMHS and DIVS A Marsh. It all begins with a Paralegal's memo dated December 8, 2016, regarding Whitney's positive approach to revealing these important Public records, to an undated and unsigned draft affidavit with similar intentions, to him ultimately succumbing to Agency coersion and presuure, ultimately changing his stance, utilizing his illogical written gymnastics in this now sudden declaration in September 2017, while on a fire assignment in Northern California, as noted in Figures 38a. to 38c.
Figure 38a. Dean Whitney memo by Udall-Shumway paralegal dated December 8, 2016, indicated Whitney's "immediately began collecting" YH Fire documenttion; because "things [tragedy documents] tend to disappear;" the importance of this particular record (i.e. DIVS A Marsh's insistence on Air Support every five minutes, and this record "was the missing piece in everybody's timeline.") Source: Udall-Shumway, Schoeffler
Figure 38b. DRAFT USFS Dean Whitney Affidavit (unsigned) based on Whitney's verbal declaration of good intentions to move forward on his willingness to testify in open court and to be subpoenaed for a deposition regarding Schoeffler's USFS AFUE FOIA lawsuit. Source: Udall-Shumway Gardner, Schoeffler
Schoeffler contends that the Hot Shot "Brother" Whitney turned Quisling by retracting and lying on his revised, pressured Declaration. He was then dutifully "rewarded" with a promotion to a managerial position in Fire Management and transferred to the USFS Northern Region, a long-established maneuver by the USFS to show their gratitude for a job well-done, (i.e. lying in his coerced revised, written declaration). I had filed a similar AFUE FOIA Request in April 2015, specifically asking for a "3-ring binder' of the YH Fire, June 30, 2013, AFUE records.
Figure 38c. USFS Dean Whitney coached and coerced Declaration (filed Sept. 21, 2017) based on Whitney's previous verbal declaration of good intentions to testify in open court and subpoenaed for a deposition regarding Schoeffler's USFS AFUE FOIA lawsuit (Schoeffler vs. USDA CIV-17-00055-PHX-GMS; DOC 31-1; Defendent's Exhibit; pages 9 and 10 of 22 pages). Whitney Declaration was signed on September 20, 2017, in Ft. Jones, CA while on a fire assignment and filed with US Dept. of Justice Attorney's Office on Sept. 21, 2017. Source: USDOJ USA, Udall-Shumway Gardner, Schoeffler
The former USFS Hot Shot Supt. Schoeffler's original USFS AFUE FOIA lawsuit for the June 30, 2013, YH Fire AFUE records (January 6, 2017) is included and referenced below in the Courthouse News links here:
( https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Yarnell.pdf ) and ( https://www.courthousenews.com/firefighter-demands-info-on-yarnell-hill-fire-disaster/ )
The YH Fire AFUE transcripts contained within the requested 3-ring binder are crucial because they provide significant clues to the GMHS hike from their Safety Zone down into the Deployment Zone as the fire progressed. The GMHS were hiking downhill (from above) within a deadly bowl, from their descent point (Part 1 of 5 - Figure 25 - below) into aggressively increasing fire behavior from below, (1) without posting a lookout; (2) without DIVS A notifying his supervisor (OPS) of this major tactical move after being told by OPS to "hunker and be safe;" and all this (3) without notifying Air Attack of their intentions, changing location(s), and /or their action(s). It is posted below.
YHFR Formerly Unrevealed post Part 1 of 5 - Figure 25. Brian Lauber June 30, 2013, 1629 (4:29 PM) photo with Google Earth overlay indicating GMHS location(s), movements, and specific areas of importance (e.g. midslope road, descent point, deployment zone, and BSR) Source: Lauber, WTKTT, Google Earth
We use the phrase "Safety Zone" in our posts only because it is mentioned so often as such in the SAIT-SAIR. Per the NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG) in the link below, a Safety Zone is defined on page 23 as an area that is "Survivable without a fire shelter." (emphasis added) It would be more accurate to refer to it as a Deployment Zone (also referenced in the IRPG), where the alleged GMHS "lookout" McDonough considered deploying his fire shelter near the Old Grader site. Many times it is also referred to as a Deployment / Fatality Site and throughout this post and this website / blog. ( https://www.nwcg.gov/sites/default/files/publications/pms461.pdf )
According to Schoeffler, the Quisling Hot Shot "Brother" that initially broached the AFUE transcripts and a 3-ring binder, told him that the AFUE transcripts contained some fairly incriminatory evidence of the GMHS plan to hike to their Deployment / Fatality Site: "at about 1600 (4:00 PM) Marsh called Air Attack (AA) every five minutes or so persistently and insistently requesting 'Air Support on our egress.'"
This need for "air support on our egress" assertion by GMHS / DIVS A Marsh is a key part of the continuing conversation between GMHS / DIVS A Marsh and the AA (referred to as ASM2 below) in the SAIT-SAIR on page 27: "At 1637, ASM2 flies a drop path for a VLAT north of Yarnell west to east and apparently over DIVS A, turning northward .... DIVS A, seeing the flight, calls and calmly says, “[ASM2], Division Alpha, That’s exactly what we’re looking for. That’s where we want the retardant.” ASM2 again circles the south end of the fire above Yarnell to line up a final flight path for a tanker drop." (SAIT-SAIR) (emphasis added)
It is a permissible inference that the FOIA Requests for the June 30, 2013, YH Fire AFUE Records seeking the AFUE records (audio and / or transcripts) are a continuation of the SAIT-SAIR A/G radio transmission quoted above.
Is this one of the SAIT-SAIR "we will never know" reasons the USFS failed to provide the requested YH Fire AFUE 3-ring binder to any of us FOIA Requesters? Or is it because of this SAIT-SAIR documented incriminating statement by the Quisling Hot Shot "Brother" bolstering the June 20, 2013, 1637 (4:37 PM) Air-to-Ground radio transmissions between DIVS A Marsh and the AA / ASM2 contained within the SAIT-SAIR and posted above?
I want you all to be aware that I never knew that the retired USFS Hot Shot Supt. Schoeffler had filed a FOIA Request for the AFUE records or the 3-ring binder until I heard it on the local television in the beginning of 2017. Once I heard the newscasters talking about the retired Hot Shot Supt. it reminded me that back in the Springtime of 2016, when I talked with a retired Municipal Hybrid Battalion Chief. However, I am unwilling to reveal how I first became aware of the AFUE / 3-ring binder.
I will tell you this - I have known about this since January 2015, when I received this "gift of knowledge" from someone high up, after he saw how I was falsely accused and disparaged by those wanting to hide the truth about the YH Fire, unethically using their authoritarian power. However, my faith in God is much more powerful than anything they had.
However, the YH Fire AFUE 3-ring binder factualy still exists in the hands of the former SW Region District USFS Fire Management Officer (DFMO) Marvin - recently transferred to the Northern Region - that originally seized it from the USFS former Hot Shot Quisling in 2015 when he said he was basically 'threatened' by his DFMO to 'never collect any more information about the GMHS ever again.' This USFS employee was also rewarded with a promotion and transfer to the Northern Region, a long-established USFS maneuver to show their gratitude to compliant, sycophant employees for a job well-done betraying their fellow employees.
Before examining the following USFS and USDA Office of General Counsel (OGC) email threads and direction, it is worth reconsidering the previously addressed 18 USC Criminal Codes (below) regarding the June 30, 2013, AFUE Government records contained within a 3-ring binder, posted above in this post, and discussed beneath Part 1 of 5 Figures 9 and 10. These would clearly apply to Government employee(s) sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the laws thereof, that would engage in the illegal acts to purloin, conceal, and destroy them:
Several of these seem to be very clear violations of 18 U.S.C. § 641 (taking of a public record or document is prohibited), 18 U.S.C. § 1361 (destruction of such records prohibited), 18 U.S.C. § 1663 (Protection Of Government Property - Protection Of Public Records And Documents), and 18 U.S.C. § 2071 (essentially three types of conduct are prohibited by 2071) (DOJ link above) according to the U.S. Dept. of Justice (DOJ), as well as a clear-cut violation of our First Amendment rights to seek redress.
Bear in mind that the Federal offense of 18 U.S. Code § 371
( law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/371 ) (Conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud United States) as well, whereby "two or more persons conspire either to commit any offense against the United States, or to defraud the United States, or any agency thereof in any manner or for any purpose, and one or more of such persons do any act to effect the object of the conspiracy" ... and, of course: 18 U.S. Code § 1001. (Statements or entries generally ... whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States, knowingly and willfully — (1) falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact; (2) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or (3) makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry ...)"
Federal Conspiracy Law: A Brief Overview by Charles Doyle, Senior Specialist in American Public Law (January 20, 2016) ( https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41223.pdf )
What follows are the fruits of my FOIA Requests for the June 28-30, 2013, YH Fire in the form of several revealing email threads from the high level USFS Fire and Aviation Management (FAM) personnel and USDA Office of General Counsel (OGC) personnel email threads. The USDA OGC attorney email acknowledges possession of the requested AFUE records and surely reveals that he understands their significance when he tells the USFS FAM to "make sure nothing happens to those tapes ... and please have some copies carefully made for preservation purposes." (emphasis added)
Figure 39. Two PDF JPEG images of an August 20, 2013, email thread from USDA USFS Fire Directors to USDA Office of General Counsel (OGC) attorneys regarding the requested AFUE records, admitting that George Vargas has the records. Source: Joy A Collura (2016-FS-R3-04243-F)
This August 20, 2013, email is a critical one because it contains information from the USFS Deputy Fire Director Bob Baird to USFS Fire Director Tom Harbour, and George Vargas of the Office of Regulatory and Management Services (ORMS) and numerous Office of General Counsel (OGC) employees that the AFUE audio and video records DO IN FACT EXIST. "Benny, George Vargas has custody of the disc with the video/audio files for the WO. He is cced." (emphasis added) Let me further emphasize that in all caps. BENNY, GEORGE VARGAS HAS CUSTODY OF THE DISC WITH THE VIDEO / AUDIO FILES FOR THE WO. HE IS CC'ED. (EMPHASIS ADDED)
Robert Baird, the Deputy Fire Director at the time and is now the USFS Pacific Southwest Region 5 Regional Forester. It looks like the Marine Corps left a different 'Brotherhood' lasting impression on him. Tom Harbour has since retired from the USFS and works with the Intl. Assoc. of Wildland Fire (IAWF), the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) "in work to reduce line of duty death, accident, and injury" and the Cornea Corporation. Cornea provides "Information Technology and Services offering Emergency Management including wildland fire - better information, better decisions." I am a proud member of the IAWF enrolled in their Mentor / Mentee program.
Here is a link (below) for Tom Harbour's Exit Interviews Parts 1-3 link from Wildfire Today, so listen to what he has to say about covering things up on investigations. ( https://wildfiretoday.com/2015/12/17/tom-harbour-exit-interview-part-1/ ) Since retiring, Tom started a small business Harbor Fire ( http://www.harbourfire.com/ ). You can't help but like the man but I sure question some of his integrity on the YH Fire and GMHS facts and records.
The custodian of the AFUE records, George Vargas, works for the Office of Regulatory and Management Services (ORMS) which is located in the Business Operations Deputy Area. ORMS has responsibility Controlled Correspondence, Correspondence Policy, Data Quality, Directives and Regulation, Forms, Reports, FOIA, Privacy Act, Information Collections, and Record Management.
Figure 40. PDF JPEG image of an email thread (8/19-20/13) OGC attorneys & USDA USFS Directors “make sure nothing happens to those [AFUE] tapes … have some copies carefully made …” Source: Joy A Collura FOIA Request (2016-FS-R3-04243-F)
Email thread from August 19-20, 2013, between USDA OGC attorney L. Benjamin Young, Jr. and USDA USFS Director Tom Harbour with AFUE direction to “make sure nothing happens to those [AFUE] tapes … have some copies carefully made for preservation purposes." (emphasis added) Clearly, the OGC attorney understands the importance of the AFUE records ("make sure nothing happens to those tapes") and the need to be mindful in securing them ("copies carefully made for preservation purposes").
Figure 41. PDF JPEG image of WFSTAR Weather Channel YH Fire video with Britt Rosso, Center Manager of the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (LLC) talking about the importance of talking about, discussing, and sharing about the YH Fire in order to heal and learn together. Source: WLFLLC and YouTube and Weather Channel ( https://youtu.be/C65FcpAi_-4 )
Please notice the discrepancy and hypocrisy of the messages between the March 2014 Weather Channel video encouraging YH Fire discussions (quoted immediately below) compared to the USDA OGC and USFS FAM cautionary and warning emails and guidance letters to not have those discussions in the PDF JPEG images of the email threads below. Which one was it? Which one of these were the USFS WFs to follow?
"I am here today to talk to you about the Yarnell Fire ... we are all struggling with how to process what happened on June 30th, 2013. Know we're all struggling out in the fire community about where the lessons, what are the take-home messages, what can we learn from this incident. What I want to share with you is how important it is to talk about it; not only to talk about it but to let you know that it's okay to talk about it and it's important that you do talk about it. Share what you've learned by reading the reports, by watching the videos and have an open, honest, respectful dialogue. Be willing to listen to other's opinions and have that respectful dialogue with your fellow firefighters by having this dialogue, by facilitating these conversations about Yarnell. This is where the learning's going to happen, is with you and your brothers and sisters out there in the field.This is the 20th anniversary of South Canyon and we're still learning fromSouth Canyon 20 years later. Yarnell just happened eight months ago. We'll be learning about the Yarnell Incident for years to come. Time and patience are going to be key for learning from this incident, so I ask you to just take the time and be patient and work through this together." Britt Rosso - former NPS Arrowhead Hot Shot Supt. and retired NARTC Director
It's pretty clear to me, and I would hope to most WFs and FFs engaged in wildland firefighting, what Mr. Rosso is sincerely endorsing and
whole-heartedly encouraging us to do. However, the USFS and USDA OGC advice email threads contradict what Mr. Rosso is saying.
Figure 42. PDF JPEG image of USFS Southwestern Region Guidance letter (right - August 19, 2013) and (left - August 16, 2013) USFS and USDA Office of General Counsel (OGC) email thread regarding "Refrain from discussing the Yarnell Fire with any third parties until cleared to do so" Source: Joy A. Collura FOIA Request
(In)consistent ... ? USFS Southwestern Region Guidance letter (right - August 19, 2013) and USFS and USDA Office of General Counsel (OGC) (left - August 16, 2013) "Refrain from discussing the Yarnell Fire with any third parties until cleared to do so." (emphasis added) So then, which one is the one for USFS WFs to adhere to as counsel? Follow the USFS Agency Guidelines and "specific procedures" provided to their employees? Or is it the "Refrain from discussing the Yarnell Fire with any third parties until cleared to do so" in a more authoritative advisory tone?
Figure 43. PDF JPEG image of a USFS Regional email thread (left) from Fire Operations Director Bill VanBruggen and Assistant Fire Operations Director Richard Nieto, Subject: A message from the Fire Director - Yarnell contacts, to Tonto NF Fire Personnel with cc: to Type 1 IC Clay Templin and numerous other FMOs and Fire & Aviation Management (FAM) personnel, regarding the OGC (March 4, 2014) direction: "We have had the advice from OGC for our employees to NOT comment on the incident itself so please heed that" while referring to the February 22, 2016, USFS Southwestern Region letter (right) to all Forest Supervisors, subject: "[USFS SW Area Employee] Guidance and Resource Information on Requests Related to the Yarnell Hill Fire" Source: Joy A. Collura FOIA Request
This is an informative USFS Southwestern Region email thread (left) from Fire Operations Director Bill VanBruggen and Assistant Fire Operations Director Richard Nieto regarding: Subject: A message from the Fire Director - Yarnell contacts, to Tonto NF Fire Personnel with cc: to Type 1 IC Clay Templin and numerous other FMOs and FAM personnel, regarding the OGC (March 4, 2014) direction: "We have had the advice from OGC for our employees to NOT comment on the incident itself so please heed that" while referring to the February 22, 2016, USFS Southwestern Region letter (right) to all Forest Supervisors, subject: "[USFS SW Area Employee] Guidance and Resource Information on Requests Related to the Yarnell Hill Fire" (emphasis added)
The email thread in Figure 42 above (left) subject is: "A message from the Fire Director - Yarnell contacts." Noteworthy: "See the highlighted sentence below on the WO direction regarding personal contacts and requests to lobby for action s [sic] related to Yarnell." The initials "HG" are in the lower left corner of the email, are likely the USFS SW Area Tonto NF (Acting or Assistant Fire Staff). (all emphasis added)
In another portion of the email thread from Nieto to several Region 3 HS Supts., is the following: "Please share as appropriate, as this was a follow up from the WO/FAM [Washington Office / Fire & Aviation Management] in reference to a email [sic] request from the mother of a member of the Granite Mountain crew requesting information from the IHC nationally.." (emphasis added)
"On separate note it's our intention regionally to have a follow up conference call with our USFS sponsored IHC crews [sic] with [SW Regional Fire Director] Bill [VanBruggen] and [SW Regional Forester] Cal [Joyner] to discuss this and other pertinent issues from the IHC Post AAR meeting. Any questions give me a call." (all emphasis added)"
These three email thread comments from the USFS Southwestern Regional Office FAM are important because of their need to have all these officials involved in their conference call to ensure the Southwestern Region Hot Shot Crews receive the proper YH Fire "guidance" to include the IHC Crews the Southwestern Regional Fire Director and the SW Regional Forester "to discuss this and other pertinent issues from the IHC Post AAR meeting." (emphasis added)
It is noteworthy that the USFS WO/FAM [Washington Office / Fire & Aviation Management] is so interested in an AZ State Forestry wildfire where only the BRHS, some misc. overhead, and several AFUE resources were the only USFS employees engaged on the YH Fire. All of this attention because of " ... a email [sic] request from the mother of a member of the Granite Mountain crew requesting information from the IHC nationally.." (emphasis added) It must be due to the fact (based on both SAIT and ADOSH members word) that the USDA USFS funded the YH Fire SAIT and SAIR. One investigator factually stated that 'It was clear that [USFS] Co-Team Leader Mike Dudley and [now USFS] Director Vicki Christensen were in charge of the YH Fire [SAIT] investigation.' With Federal funding usually comes Federal control. A USFS FOIA Request on this issue has been filed and their usual response is them being "backlogged" and it is repeated in every status request email.
Figure 44. USFS AFUE Briefing Paper falsely claiming "no ground to air (VHF-FM) radio traffic was recorded" Source: former ADOSH Investigator Barry Hicks and Collura FOIA records
This USFS FAM briefing paper falsely claims that there were "no ... ground to air (VHF-FM) radio traffic." The more common terminology is Air-to-Ground (A/G). This was an attachment to a USFS August 29, 2013, FOIA Request by ADOSH attorney Christopher O. Anderson also providing him with four (4) AFUE DVDs.
The referenced USFS FAM August 23, 2013, "[AFUE] Study Data Collected on Yarnell Hill" and “FOIA request and public release of data collected by the AFUE ground team" briefing paper was forwarded to one of our contributing authors by ADOSH Investigator Barry Hicks. The briefing paper was an attachment to a USFS August 29, 2013, FOIA Request Response to ADOSH attorney Christopher O. Anderson providing them with four (4) AFUE DVDs. Neither myself nor the former USFS Hot Shot Supt. Schoeffler, also filing USFS YH Fire AFUE FOIA Requests received four (4) AFUE DVDs. (emphasis added)
This USFS FAM Briefing Paper is more proof of USFS obfuscation and prevarication. It is a fact that there were YH Fire June 30, 2013, Air-to-Ground (A/G) radio transmissions recorded by the AFUE according to their own USFS and USDA OGC email threads above revealed in Figures 39 and 40 (i.e. “make sure nothing happens to those [AFUE] tapes … have some copies carefully made …”).
Figure 45. PDF JPEG image of after the Doce Fire Briefing on June 30, 2013, and transition to Yarnell Hill Fire assignment conversation between WF overhead and GMHS Acting Supt. Steed. Source: Schoeffler and Anonymous-by-request WFs This concerns a face-to-face conversation on the morning of June 30, 2013, with two USFS PNF WF supervisors that worked with the GMHS on the Doce Fire the week prior to the Yarnell Hill Fire. The GMHS was still assigned to the Prescott NF to work on the Doce Fire and Misc. ABC fires securing lines and mopping them up. The GMHS had completed the morning briefing for these wildfires and were notified of them being "committed" or reassigned to the YH Fire and were then in transit to Yarnell. Along the way, these men met somewhere and had a brief discussion with Asst. GMHS Supt. Steed as follows:
These two former Doce Fire WF supervisors asked Steed ‘How are things going?’ Steed replied: “The way things are going, [he] is gonna get us all killed.”
This significant, disturbing conversation was recounted to me by (1) a former USFS fatality investigator, (2) a "contributing other" author (on four separate occasions), (3) the USFS employee himself, (4) and other USFS WFs. This is chilling - well frightening is more like it! He knew that morning that things were bad, and yet he followed stupid and unsafe orders to hike into a Death Trap, taking the GMHS with him on a Trip to Abilene. Talk about a "self-fulfilling prophecy!" One has to wonder ... were these two USFS WF supervisors that worked with the GMHS on the Doce Fire the week prior ever interviewed?
Figure 46. PDF JPEG image of Sun City West FD Jerry Thompson Drop Box June 30, 2013, photographs of increasing fire behavior. Source: Sun City West FD, YouTube, WTKTT
(https://www.dropbox.com/sh/02ue6bnjp6nazkm/AACjXUZXUTol5xdSHlORGsTqa/Photos%20and%20Video/Jerry%20Thompson%20Photos%20Videos?dl=0&subfolder_nav_tracking=1 ) Copy and paste this Drop Box link to access it
Yarnell Hill Fire - Thompson IMG _1898 - 6/30/2013 - 4 24 PM ( https://youtu.be/mOyePMA6pLE ) and ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOyePMA6pLE )
Consider now the 3:23 and 5:45 Sesame Street, The Shrine Corridor area, and GMHS Deployment Zone Alignment cross-fade video work from WTKTT.
Figure 46a. Crossfade video of the Yarnell Hill Fire - Thompson IMG _1898 - 6/30/2013 - 4 24 PM Source: Sun City West FD, Google Earth, YouTube, WTKTT
Crossfade video of a photo taken at 4:24 PM on June 30, 2013, at the Yarnell Hill Fire, by Sun City West FF Jerry Thompson. He and his crew were serving as 'lookouts' at a location just West of 'Westway' in Yarnell. The yellow line in the crossfade represents the Sesame-to-Shrine dozer line. The photo shows that, circa 4:24 PM, the fire was definitely coming into Yarnell from out in the 'middle bowl' area, but there was no 'fire' or 'smoke' actually emanating from the Youth Camp or the dozer line itself.
To clarify and put into perspective here, WTKTT claims there was "no 'fire' or 'smoke' actually emanating from the Youth Camp or the dozer line itself" and this is a true statement. However, we have always been talking about the last "18 minutes" and there was clearly fire in those crucial areas after 4:24 PM based on separate and distinct smoke columns (plumes) visible in photos posted on this website / blog. And the WTKTT video was borne from the fact that locals were showing me their fire photos believing that their YH Fire photos and videos were of fire behavior closer to town a lot earlier than what the SAIT-SAIR and media were revealing. So, they were hoping that these WFs and FFs folks would come forth to share their photos and videos and testimonies of fire behavior closer to town and / or within the Sesame Street and Shrine Corridor area from their perspective.
We are continually interviewing WFs, FFs, and locals in the Sesame Street and Shrine Corridor and spur road areas seeking their accounts, and hopefully, records as well.
Figure 46b. PDF JPEG image screenshot and Snippet of crossfade video of the Yarnell Hill Fire indicating fire weather, topography, and firing operation fire behavior alignment (Thompson IMG _1898 - 6/30/2013 - 4 24 PM) Source: Sun City West FD, Google Earth, YouTube, WTKTT
Consider the Figures 45a. & b. above that reveal the Sun City West FD Jerry Thompson Drop Box June 30, 2013, crossfade video and screenshot Snippet of the photographs (with explanatory text by me) of the increasing fire behavior located at video timeframes of 3:23 and 5:45, respectively for the Sesame Street, Shrine Corridor area, and GMHS Deployment Zone Alignment.
From one of our contributing authors: This extremely influential alignment, influenced by the severe outflow winds from the North funneled exponentially increasing fire behavior, massive spotting, severe burning, intense vertical and horizontal vortices generating additional vorticity and instability, and mass ignition funneled upslope into the GMHS Deployment Zone and Fatality Site. This was then further topographically influenced by the GMHS "descent point" ridgeline saddle above the bowl-slope above the Deployment Site drawing the winds and fire behavior upslope toward and through it in a Venturi effect. The yellow line represents the Sesame-to-Shrine Corridor dozer line. The twin parallel red lines indicate the two parallel chutes, chimneys that align upslope directly into the GMHS Deployment Zone and Fatality site. The roundish-red icon ("D") indicates the GMHS Deployment Zone and the other roundish-red icons indicate various locations of personnel (GMHS and Sun City West FD FF), locations (i.e. BSR, 'Old Grader' site, dozer staging, helispot, GMHS Command vehicle and Crew Carriers)
Consider now the topographic effects of Saddles and the resultant effects of fluid dynamics on wildland fire weather and how it can potentially have exponential influences fire on behavior on wildfires from several sources.
Butler, B. et al (1998) Fire Behavior Associated with the South Canyon Fire on Storm King Mountain, Colorado ( https://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rp009.pdf )
Venturi effect - The increase in velocity of a stream of gas or liquid as it passes from one area through another area of smaller size or diameter. Conversely, if the area through which the stream is passing becomes larger, the velocity of the stream will decrease.
Estimating Winds for Fire Behavior ( https://www.nwcg.gov/publications/pms437/weather/estimating-winds-for-fire-behavior )
Of saddles and chimneys and safety in general ( http://www.t-cep.org/Handbook/Ofsaddles.htm )
"A saddle is the low area between two high points or hilltops in a ridge line. In a wildfire saddles become channels for high winds as the heat from the fire flows uphill. The wind tends to speed up as it squeezes between the hilltops and then blows over the ridge with greater force. Saddles are not good places to site homes, nor are they good places to seek refuge if caught in the open by a wildfire.
A chimney is a narrow side canyon usually tilted up toward a ridge line. The steeper and narrower the side canyon, the more it will act like a chimney drawing hot air from a fire into it and speeding it uphill. Chimneys can become infernos in a wildfire."
Page, W.G. and Butler, B.W. (2018) Fuel and topographic influences on wildland firefighter burnover fatalities in Southern California. IAWF, 27 ( https://www.publish.csiro.au/wf/pdf/WF17147 )
The Venturi effect - Youtube video Published August 26, 2012
Venturi Effect and Pitot Tubes Kahn Academy
( https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/fluids/fluid-dynamics/v/venturi-effect-and-pitot-tubes )
Yarnell Hill Fire - Thompson IMG _1898 - 6/30/2013 - 4 24 PM
The exponentially increasing fire behavior is briefly addressed here. "Exponential growth - a quantity is said to be growing exponentially when its value at any time is its previous value multiplied by a particular number, the same number each time. (Note that exponential growth is different than linear growth. In a linear process, a quantity increases by the same amount, not the same multiple, at each step. ... and seems to remain a mystery" (emphasis added) (Dorner, D. 1996. The Logic of Failure. Why things go wrong and what we can do to make them right. pp. 111-112)
( http://potionsformuggles.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-logic-of-failure.html ) Dorner book review
A Yarnell area local contractor, having witnessed the June 30, 2013, fire behavior and while losing a lot of heavy equipment in the fire, basically describes in near-perfection what aggressive and extreme fire behavior he witnessed and what is clearly visible in these two photographs. "Gordon Acri, who has property in Yarnell, described the situation as a wall of flame coming from the north to the south. 'It was just eating everything up in sight.'" (emphasis added) (http://archive.azcentral.com/ic/contest/pulitzer/yarnell/ ) Acri's assertion validates the likely Sesame Street and Shrine Corridor area likely firing operation fire behavior.
The Yarnell Hill Fire: The Meteorological Origins (July 2, 2013) Cliff Mass Weather and Climate Blog. This blog discusses current weather, weather prediction, climate issues, and other topics.
Excellent 20-minute time-lapse video from Congress, AZ to the South indicating thunderstorm downdrafts and outflow winds on fire behavior and good comments from Matt Oss titled: Yarnell Hill Fire from Congress, AZ"
Refer also to the USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station General Technical Report PNW GTR- 854 November 2011. Synthesis of Knowledge of Extreme Fire Behavior: Volume I for Fire Managers. Paul A. Werth, Brian E. Potter, Craig B. Clements, Mark A. Finney, Scott L. Goodrick, Martin E. Alexander, Miguel G. Cruz, Jason A. Forthofer, and Sara S. McAllister
( https://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr854.pdf ) P. 145 for ordering instructions - Excellent free publication!
Figure 47. PDF JPEG image screenshot and Snippet of the slide asking "Was there a Rogue Sesame Street and Shrine Fuel / Fire Break Corridor [area] firing operation?" Source: SAIT-SAIR; Schoeffler, Honda, Collura, DP, Harwood
There are only two SAIT-SAIR quotes referring to the Sesame Street and Shrine Fuel / Fire Break Corridor area as a "two-track road" and "old fuel break" being prepared for a "burnout along the dozer line." One of our Contributing Author / Editors noted that the word "area" was lacking from the Sesame Street and Shrine Corridor in our AHFE PowerPoint presentation image above in brackets. Therefore, it is added into the Figure 47 caption.
We are presenting our point of view as an argument, supported, of course, by relevant facts, drawn from sources, and presented in an logical manner. The thesis of an argumentative position is debatable. It makes a proposition about which reasonable people could disagree, and any two writers working with the same source materials could conceive of and support other, opposite thesis. Source: Synthesis Information MSU.EDU. Argument sources - information from other authors you agree with, disagree with, or build upon. ( libguides.heidelberg.edu/eval/beam ) "Constructing an argument and substantiating a claim is rarely entirely black-or white, on-or-off, all or nothing. Argumentative writing is about being able to articulate a position and argue it using academic evidence. In fact, in your research you may find yourself disagreeing with sources at one point and agreeing with them later in the same essay. Arguments are often a mixture of assertion, acknowledgement, confirmation, refutation, and concession. Complex claims rarely have a single right or wrong answer; rather they are provocations, analyses, explications, or applications of concepts, theories, and ideas." (all emphasis added) (Odegaard Writing Ctr. & Research - Washington.edu )
The sole public evidence thus far of a likely firing operation, has been scant (i.e. July 2013 Yarnell Library video vanished without a trace) viewed by many showing a firing operation; the following year (2014) "burnt fusees" and "accelerants" were located (by special local hounds) along the Corridor area during separate site visits; and a recent GMHS family member PODCAST firmly acknowledging "I stand firm that there was a backburn [inexperienced / untrained vernacular for a burnout or firing operation] that came up that canyon. It was this fact along with the weather change that the IC never sent out ... " (all emphasis added) ( https://www.investigativemedia.com/please-begin-yarnell-hill-fire-chapter-xxvi-here/#comment-478401 ) This was posted on IM on April 22, 2019 at 1:00 PM and the quote is from one of my Public Records Requests within an email (January 29, 2015) from [DP] to [RO] "Re: Yarnell Fire."
Consider now the photo in Figure 48 (below) of the actual City of Prescott - Public Records Request (PRR) Dated 6-17-16 regarding a January 29, 2015, email between DP and RO. When the above IM post came out, there were people in the Fire Industry that unjustly disparaged me because they told me that DP never made this statement and there is no such document showing such. Due to the overwhelming feedback from numerous WFs and FFs coming forward expressing the need for forthcoming training, Staff Rides, Training Academies, and the like, the sole reason I placed the document below is to prove the point in an entirely positive way about the "backburn" rather than in a manner to cause any grievance or criticism.
On April 24, 2019 at 12:57 AM (Comment 478080 of IM Chapter XXVI), WTKTT stated: "The only mysteries have always been what HER 'original sources' were ... and if she ended up discovering things herself that are still not ( yet ) publicly known." My disappointment is when listening to all these PODCASTS she placed out there on the Internet, there are other firefighters who said they know from her that there are other vital areas on the "backburn" subject omitted from and / or not discussed / posted on those PODCASTS. So then, in order to find the "complete" truth - something we all want - do I question what she claims she knows about the "backburn" or do I question what the firefighters have told me? Furthermore, and more importantly, we need to address this and present this privately as well as the public at large so that we can fulfill our shared goal. We both agree that "We will learn lessons from this only when the truth is complete. ..." (emphasis added)
Figure 48. Email (January 29, 2015) from [DP] to [RO] "Re: Yarnell Fire" and her "I stand firm there was a backburn that came up that canyon. It was this fact ..." Source: Collura City of Prescott - Public Records Request (PRR) Dated 6-17-16
Consider now the Figure 48 image (above) of the DP and RO January 29, 2015, email transcript typed out for easier reading and comprehension.
"Thursday January 29, 2015 7:53 AM From: [DP] with email address omitted / redacted To: [RO] Subject: Re Yarnell Fire
"Thank you for including me on all of you and your groups (sic) hard work. We have been very busy trying to right some injustices and it has been a battle.
"In this section in your closing you state: "In closing, we would like to consider the unofficial rumor that GMHS were coerced into leaving a good black safety zone to move to the ranch. Had the GMHS been adequately trained in reading the fire's next dangerous move, they would not have made the fatal decisions that led to their deaths. If all the firefighters had been equipped with the proper assessment training, Marsh or anyone else would not have been able to convince them to make the choice that they did." (emphasis original)
"I am not sure how comfortable I am with the comment about 'adequately trained' because I know that GMIHS had not received all of the weather information. No matter how much training you have if you are not given all the facts it can lead to mishap. I will leave the 'coerced' fact to the Lord - I pray he convicts the men's (sic) hearts who know the truth.
"I do have a request (if possible) I know that there is a software program that can build then show fire progression based on input. Would it be possible to work with this software and put in the fire information that we have about Yarnell and see if it predicts the growth of this fire and they (sic) state?
"I stand firm that there was a back burn that came up that canyon. It was this fact along with the weather change that the IC never sent out because they were busy evacuating that caused the death of Granite Mountain. Yes there were all of the facts that your group has so brilliantly shown but please let's not lose sight that we are still fighting for the complete truth. (emphasis added)
"If you have any questions or need anything further let me know. I look forward to the opportunity to use the software.
"God is so good - may His peace guide you."
There is also evidence from some other sources as well that refer to a "backburn." ("Our Investigation, Our Truth - What Happened to the Granite Mountain Hot Shots") [DP] and former GMHS D. Harwood. November 28, 2015 email ( https://anchor.fm/ourtruth/episodes/Episode-Ten-Thank-You-e40gp7 )
On an InvestigativeMEDIA post, "[DP] says April 12, 2014 at 8:11 am Thank you for doing this digging for me. I have theory – of which I have had many but discover they won’t work – I really think there was a back burn set possibly by the trailers. Thoughts!" (emphasis added)
Are the "trailers" that she refers the ones on the Wasson's property in the Sesame Street section of the Sesame Street and Shrine Corridor? "[DP] says April 12, 2014 at 8:31 am (IM post) Stop the bickering and move on. To “The Truth” – the Helm’s were inside because the fire came up soooooo quickly. They even still had their animals out. (emphasis added)
"They just made it in their home after rushing around putting them in. ... But I agree is (sic) was NOT true (sic) safety zone. But we all know if GMIHS would have made it to the ranch they would have survived."
Experienced WFs and FFs have told me that the fire moved very quickly, exponentially influenced by the likely firing operation because of the North outflow winds and the topographic alignment. We rely on the support of their investigation which acknowledges that "there was a back burn that came up that canyon. It was this fact ..." which allows a permissible inference to be drawn that the specifically focused title of their PODCAST, i.e. "Our Truth" of what they discovered. It is unfortunate that they have only spoken of evidence they have uncovered, however, they have never specifically revealed any of their sources or what they have discovered. And this may be based on some legal counsel they may have received or ??? (emphasis added). If she has specific reason(s) why she cannot (or will not) reveal her sources or other information, then I would expect all that to be clarified in some detail. We are definitely on parallel paths, and I have tried to reach out to her on her PODCAST and never got a reply back. We are being shared some of the same or similar information. I too withhold some of my source information for various reasons. I avoid "throwing anyone under the bus" and give them the opportunity to share with me in private first. If they do not respond, then I place the information out and avoid using their names.
DP posted this on IM on April 9, 2014: "The truth of what happened that day will come out. We will learn lessons from this only when the truth is complete. ..." (emphasis added) Yes indeed! We totally agree on this. And we are doing our part with every post on this website and blog.
DP is absolutely correct in this statement that "The truth of what happened that day will come out. We will learn lessons from this only when the truth is complete." However, it is going to require her to reveal what she knows and her sources, even those "anonymous-by-request" if it is to happen. And, of course, local residents, WFs, and FFs that were on the YH Fire on June 30, 2013, to provide the same as well, with their personal anecdotes, photos, and videos.
On IM on April 9, 2014 at 2:23 PM [DP] asks: " >>Has anyone thought about a back burn? The human factors aspect/ the oppression GMIHS lived under from the city? Who could have had the power to make them go off the hill? Did the left hand know what the right hand was doing? Who was the Forest Service man who was at the restaurant talking on the phone saying “we really f- – – ed up.”? Any answers." (emphasis added) ( https://www.investigativemedia.com/yarnell-hill-fire-chapter-vi-comments/#comment-22767 )
DP asks: "Has anyone thought about a back burn?" (emphasis added) Of course we have; that has been the theme of this website from its inception and we ask that same question and seek out those records to validate that fact that a firing operation did in fact occur - every opportunity we get. The main reason I am doing this is because in the second week of July 2013, the actual landowner told me his account of firemen burning on his property; then later seeing another homeowner's photo of a firing operation with vehicles and a WF's and / or FF's view from The Grotto performing a firing operation out in the Sesame Street and Shrine Corridor area. Five locals have identified that one of the FFs came from Flagstaff; on a recorded interview, a recently deceased Shrine Grotto resident Doug Camblin (RiP Oct. 10, 2019) told me that this Flagstaff FF came back after the fire and bought his boat.
Then, on the 2014 GMHS Memorial Anniversary, I took author John Maclean "researcher" Holly Neill, Eric Marsh's best friend Alan Sinclair, Univ, of CO author, professor, and researcher Michael Kodas, fire shelter designer Jim Roth and his lady friend, Deanna Thompson (IM Fire 20+), and Fred Thompson to the area above. I did not show them the photos or reveal the name of the homeowner to protect them, to the folks mentioned above, however, I did take them to the site and angle of where the firing operation photo was taken from. That same day, before they arrived, there were two Honor Guard people that played the bagpipes, dressed in formal uniforms, that I overheard state "what happened on this [Shrine] road will die with us." The reason I never placed this information publicly on IM or elsewhere, until now, was due to sensitivity for the loved ones. However, a select few in person have always known about this. So then, these two Honor Guard men were either there or know who was there that day involved with the firing operation.
"The human factors aspect/ the oppression GMIHS lived under from the city?" "Who could have had the power to make them go off the hill?" (emphasis added) Only they (GMHS) had that power. No one forced them off the hill that afternoon. "Did the left hand know what the right hand was doing?" (all emphasis added) All indications are that 'they' did not.
"Who was the Forest Service man who was at the restaurant talking on the phone saying “we really f- – – ed up.”? (emphasis added) This statement is particularly interesting. We would ALL like to know the answer to that question. Was it Mystery Man ... or someone else in an authoritative role? I also have been told that others heard someone say the "we really f- - -ked up" comment but just now realized that it was a USFS man from DP's question here. "Would anyone be able to guide me to any interviews with Yarnell Fire volunteer firefighters that were in Yarnell – or – any structure firefighters that were in Yarnell on June 30th? Thank you." (emphasis added) ( https://www.investigativemedia.com/yarnell-hill-fire-chapter-vi-comments/#comment-23106 )
She KNOWS that there were Yarnell FD FFs and other FFs there involved that day performing a "backburn" [firing operation]! However, she only goes so far in revealing any details on this important issue. I do know some of the names of these FFs you inquired about, so please reach out to me.
This is an InvestigativeMEDIA (IM) post directed to IM poster Bob Powers - "[DP] says April 25, 2014 at 10:07 am Mr. Powers – I am thankful that you are an OLD fire fighter. BUT GMIHS did not leave the black because they were ignorant of what was around them. They were ordered off the ridge -period. What needs to be discussed is who would have the power to insist they leave the black. Who would call them and require this movement? What are the human factors that these men worked under (City of Prescott & Forest Service)? They knew the last time they turned a directive down they were punished. They had eyes on the fire (Eric). They were told by someone that they had enough time to get to the ranch. Who possibly started a back burn that whipped up the canyon? Who is not talking that knows the truth? Who is being haunted by the memories of knowing a mistake was made? Who will finally step up and talk – standing up for the Granite Mountain Hotshots – finally stopping those voices that say it was them being cowboys? These men may have been young wildland firefighters but they knew the rules, they knew fire, they knew the fuels, they had their eyes on the fire, they would not take risks with their lives. I think a lot of good conversations are happening here – but – pressure needs to be placed on the so called leaders who do not accept the responsibility of leadership: “honesty”, "strength”, ”courage”." (all emphasis added) ( https://www.investigativemedia.com/yarnell-hill-fire-chapter-vi-comments/#comment-33409 )
If all the above is true about the GMHS, then they would still be alive. And we are definitely doing our part to put the pressure on seeking the same information, so please keep doing your part as well. For a long time, I would hear WFs and FFs that the GMHS were "ordered down." And in my opinion, considering their prior wildland fire leadership and human factors history of experiencing near misses, there were a lot of USFS WFs that felt that the GMHS should have never even been a Hot Shot Crew in the first place. So then, from the moment this happened until now, I have always believed that there is much more to this "ordered down" claim.
"[DP] says April 25, 2014 at 9:50 am Andrew Ashcraft is sitting – his shirt has a circle stain on the (R) shoulder. Yes he is between Wade Parker and Dustin DeFord. I had the opportunity to sit on the that same rock (thank you to the one who took me there). The view was panoramic – plus aggravating. They worked hard all morning to have it all for not because of a retardant drop – nice work put out the back burn. This is why they re-positioned." (all emphasis added)
On the contrary, we watched and photographed the GMHS "all morning" and most of the afternoon, and what we witnessed was that they hardly did much work at all that day.
Still trying to figure out who the "Mystery Man" is who was wearing the white, full brimmed hardhat, so please consider these photos below and examine them carefully. Are you any of these guys? Do any of you recognize these guys?
Figure 49. Photos of WFs and / or FFs engaged on the YH Fire on June 30, 2013, unknown timeframe. Explanatory and / or inquiring text on photo. Some fire behavior is visible in the background. Source: Anonymous-By-Request contributor
Figure 49a. Photo of WFs and / or FFs engaged on the YH Fire on June 30, 2013, unknown timeframe. Explanatory and / or inquiring text on photo. Some fire behavior is visible in the background. Source: Anonymous-By-Request contributor
Figure 49b. Cropped photo of WF and / or FF engaged on the YH Fire on June 30, 2013, unknown timeframe. Explanatory and / or inquiring text on photo. Source: Anonymous-By-Request contributor
Figure 49c. Cropped photo of WF and / or FF engaged on the YH Fire on June 30, 2013, unknown timeframe. Explanatory and / or inquiring text on photo. Source: Anonymous-By-Request contributor
Figure 49d. Cropped photo of WFs and / or FFs engaged on the YH Fire on June 30, 2013, unknown timeframe. Explanatory and / or inquiring text on photo. Some fire behavior is visible in the background. Source: Anonymous-By-Request contributor
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
AHFE: International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics - Advances in Human Error, Reliability, Resilience, and Performance. Proceedings of the AHFE 2019 International Conference on Human Error, Reliability, Resilience, and Performance, July 24-28, 2019, Washington D.C., USA
Figure 50. Alert for Wickenburg, AZ hospital to ready for "several" injured firefighters" and "FFs with burn injuries" snippet. Source: AZ Republic Pulitzer Prize - Yarnell Hill Fire
There were also numerous credible reports of "several" injured firefighters" and "FFs with burn injuries" that have never seen the light of day.
(http://archive.azcentral.com/ic/contest/pulitzer/yarnell/ ) "Wickenburg hospital expecting to treat 'several' injured firefighters; 19 still unaccounted for." #yarnellfire http://bit.ly/14kf8Kh 6:41 PM - 30 Jun 2013; 6:41 p.m.: "The hospital in nearby Wickenburg prepares to receive the injured, prompting The Republic to send reporters Dennis Wagner and Lindsey Collom there." Twitter link (emphasis added) as well as "7:18 PM: Officials tell us 22 firefighters are injured. We let readers know there are conflicting reports of what's happening." (emphasis added)
Additionally, an anonymous local source mentioned that he witnessed a local FF on June 30, 2013, in Yarnell toward the Seasame Street area where both his hands were burned. However, the Wickenburg Hospital neither confirmed nor denied any such injuries and cited HIPAA laws (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Public Law 104-191), regarding further information.
Lynn Bleeker, a former USFS WF, seems to have discerned the some of the key causal human factors issues on the YH Fire when she noted that the questions investigators will be asking are the obvious ones. However, did they ask those questions? She is on point here with her own questions: "Did they need to be there? With the weather coming in, were they informed as soon as they could have been to get the hell out of there? The bottom line," she said, “You should never be losing lives.” (emphasis added) (http://archive.azcentral.com/ic/contest/pulitzer/yarnell/ )
Tex Gilligan saw the deteriorating weather in the distance and said "Hey kid, we need to get the hell out of here." And the GMHS had the best view of anyone, except for Air Attack, so they should have seen the same thing without being warned over the radio.
Consider now these several various articles on Firewise, Defensible Space, and the like to better protect your property and allow the WFs and FFs a better and safer chance of success. Wildland fires are inevitable, especially in the Southwestern Region of the U.S. One means to improve your chances of your home surviving is to 'Firewise' your property by thinning and removing ladder fuels and fuels within a minimum of 30' from your structures although 50' is better and 100' is best.
Better yet is what is referred to as "Defensible Space" Creating defensible space is essential to improve your home’s chance ofsurviving a wildfire. It’s the buffer you create between a building on your property and the fuels that surround it.This space is needed to slow or stop the spread of wildfire and it protects your home from catching fire byeither direct flame contact or radiant heat. Defensible space is also important for the protection of thefirefighters defending your home.Here are two links that will be helpful as you prepare your property against the inevitable wildfires: (1) an NFPA link for the Firewise program information ( https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-andrisks/Wildfireutm_source=nwsl&utm_medium=email_medium&utm_campaign=nwsl0005&order_src=c365 ) and a pretty good one from the former California Department of Forestry link specifically on defensible space. This link may need to be copy and pasted to access the information.
Here are two links that will be helpful as you prepare your property against the inevitable wildfires: (1) an NFPA link for the Firewise program information
( https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-andrisks/Wildfireutm_source=nwsl&utm_medium=email_medium&utm_campaign=nwsl0005&order_src=c365 ) and a pretty good one from the former California Department of Forestry link specifically on defensible space (Wildfire Is Coming ... Are You Ready?):
( https://www.readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/getready/defensible-space/ ). These two links may need to be copy and pasted to access the information.
This is an excellent paper on the Yarnell Hill Fire and Yarnell in particular that goes onto a lot of detail."Analysis and Comments on the Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona and the Current Fire Situation in the United States" (July 2013) Peter H. Morrison pm@pacificbio.org and George Wooten george.wooten@pacificbio.org - Pacific Biodiversity Institute P.O. Box 298 Winthrop, Washington 98862 (509-996-2490) | info@pacificbio.org
California Wildfires - Key Recommendations to Prevent Future Disasters (June 25, 2019) Lawrence J. McQuillan, Hayeon Carol Park,Adam B. Summers, Katherine Dwyer. Independent Institute. Misplaced Priorities, Perverse Incentives, and Vicious Cycles
What follows are numerous informative YH Fire articles (2014) by the AZ Republic posted as a Pulitzer Prize series.( https://www.pulitzer.org/finalists/staff-18 )
DECLINING RESOURCES MAKE WILDFIRE PREVENTION DIFFICULT - Brandon Loomis, The Republic azcentral.com Republic reporters Erin Kelly, Mary Jo Pitzl, Mary K. Reinhart and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez contributed to this article.
One lightning strike. That’s all it takes. A SINGLE MOMENT SOMEWHERE, THE NEXT FIRE IS WAITING TO HAPPEN. By Brandon Loomis and Mary Jo Pitzl, The Republic | azcentral.com.
THE NEXT FIRE IS WAITING TO HAPPEN. By Brandon Loomis and Mary Jo Pitzl, The Republic | azcentral.com.
WE MOURN. THE INVESTIGATION: Seeking answers in wake of tragedy. July 2, 2013. THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC YARNELL HILL FIRE ( https://www.pulitzer.org/files/2014/breaking-newsreporting/azrepublic/03azrepublic2014.pdf )
More than 1 factor spawned tragedy, wildfire experts say - Fuels, thunderstorm likely contributed to deadly fire condition. By Shaun McKinnon. ( https://www.pulitzer.org/ )
The following excerpts and links are from various WFs and FFs on June 30, 2013, noteworthy radio transmissions pertaining to the Sesame Street and Shrine Corridor area likely firing operation and observed fire behavior.
Firing operation with OPS Abel and Task Force Leader (TFLD) Moser and OPS Musser video "firing operations ... horseshoe in between the two heads but it's starting to spot in the middle of that horseshoe and things are gonna start getting real active here when that thing starts heating up and it's gonna suck everything together ... pulling everybody out of The Ranch" video reveals separate and distinct smoke columns (plumes) and aggressive fire behavior as they are firing out. (M2U00261.MPG)
( https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ipv8to6ih7gmzbq/AAC82U3UuheEtc8GPHFn91vea?dl=0&preview=M2U00262.MPG ) (M2U00262.MPG ) You will need to copy and paste this link to access the data - Video of DIVS KC Yowell and Safety Officer Tony Sciacca
YH Fire Safety Officer Sciacca in The Shrine area with Harper Canyon in the background exhibiting very aggressive fire behavior. Several fire vehicles are visible as the camera pans near the end of the video. Video continuation of above Shrine area with aggressive fire behavior and DIVS Yowell ("slow it down Skippy") as the PVFD Water Tender (WT) rapidly approaches and passes him and two BRHS Crew Carriers are pulling out behind the WT. (M2U00263.MPG)
( https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ipv8to6ih7gmzbq/AAC82U3UuheEtc8GPHFn91vea? dl=0&preview=M2U00263.MPG) You will need to copy and paste this link to access the data
Video continuation of above Shrine area with aggressive fire behavior and DIVS Yowell and OPS Musser and DIVS Hulburd with BRHS Frisby overheard talking about being "in on those structures in The Shrine right now, and we'll be the last ones out, we're ah ... pushing our folks out ... with very multiple spots ... pushing down on us pretty hard." OPS Musser comments that "40 mph winds in Skull Valley right now."
( https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ipv8to6ih7gmzbq/AAC82U3UuheEtc8GPHFn91vea? dl=0&preview=M2U00263.MPG ) You will need to copy and paste this link to access the data
Multiple fire pickup and Fire Engine vehicles visible leaving the area - DIVS Hulburd comments: "we need to get everybody out of here ... we got fire coming across, we need to get them out ..." Cordes calls Task Force 2 asking about a couple Engines holding in place at BSR, ... TFLD 2 [Esquibel] "I'll send one that way ... DIVS Hulburd: "Frisby's coming out with the last ones, so once he's out, everybody's out" ...
"... the fire's been ... a lot's been happening these past 20 minutes, the fire's been pounding us real hard ... I think we're gonna start losing some structures in the next few minutes ... [BRHS True Brown] "Making sure idiots aren't burning themselves up ... goddamn" ... (M2U00264.MPG)
BRHS True Brown's comment about "Making sure idiots aren't burning themselves up" is very informative and revealing, supporting the Sesame Street and Shrine Corridor area likely firing operation - the premise of this website.
Very aggressive fire behavior in the Shrine area in this video clip (M2U00266R.mp4)
(https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ipv8to6ih7gmzbq/AAC82U3UuheEtc8GPHFn91vea?dl=0&preview=M2U00266R.mp4 ) AA/Bravo 33 "Like they [GMHS] were Southeast, away from the fire, headed downhill ..." (M2U00267.MPG)
DIVS Hulburd stated: "what happened earlier was they [GMHS] sent some people to bump their trucks ... so the rest of the Crew ... they sent some people to bump their vehicles." This is an interesting comment suggesting that the GMHS had split up with several on The Weavers and several as drivers for their GMHS vehicles because this is NOT mentioned in the SAIT-SAIR.
In closing, please do your level best to discount and ignore the well intentioned, but clearly misguided, Wildland Fire LLC "Progressive Thinkers" and their "Honoring the Fallen" video (Figure 30) Please hearken back Part 1 of 5 to what former USFS Fire Director Jerry Williams stated in 2002: “The Ten Standard Firefighting Orders must be firm rules of engagement. They cannot be simple guidelines, and they cannot be “bargained.” They are the result of hard-learned lessons. Compromising one or more of them is a common denominator of all tragedy fires. On the Dude, South Canyon, and Thirtymile Fires, the Fire Orders were ignored, overlooked, or otherwise compromised. (emphasis added) (Williams 2002)
“The Fire Orders mean little after we are in trouble. That is why we must routinely observe them and rely on them before we get into trouble. We know that no fire shelter can ensure survival all of the time under all circumstances. Entrapment avoidance must be our primary emphasis and our measure of professional operational success." (all emphasis added) (Williams 2002)
Unfortunately, it readily appears that many of today's WFs and FFs engaging in wildland firefighting do not subscribe to this sage professional advice and wisdom. And worst of all, the Investigation Teams or Learning Reviews refuse to utilize these as a template or standard to compare or contrast what is right and wrong any longer. However, there may still be hope. Here is a quote from a portion of an "Old School" WF named Bill Astor (listed as "Safety Officer, [IMT] and facilities Safety Officer") in his ADOSH interview(s), which gives me hope.
"... we have the 10 & 18, you know -- some people would say they’re guidelines -- for us they’re - they’re rules - they’re policy - uh, they deal with fire behavior, they deal with - with organizational control, they - they deal with, uh, a myriad of - of, uh, issues and incidents that you could come into contact with and - and these 10 & 18 were developed as result of, you know, unfortunately catastrophes that we’ve just experienced and they’ve been developed in the field and they - they’ve been looked at by fire experts over the years and practiced - but th- these - these, uh, rules -- and - and I call them rules in my moniker -- are things that you cannot break, you cannot bend and you cannot walk away from. These are pre- pretty staunch rules of, uh, fireline activity and - and how you fight fire in a safe manner. INTERVIEW WITH BILL ASTOR - Interviewer: [ADOSH] Brett Steurer 10-18/8:05 am Case # AZSF - Page 8" (emphasis added and line numbers removed)
Over the years, I have had numerous WFs and FFs tell me: "If this newer, 'kinder, gentler' generation of WFs and FFs loses this 'Old School' way of thinking and fighting wildfires, then they are basically f**ked, because they'll never be able to get it back." Stay the course and "go back to the basics" of the "LCES and the 10 & 18" because they work every time you utilize them.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for though art with me. Psalm 23:4 (KJV)
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from the appearance of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 (KJV)
Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: For false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thy heart:
Wait I say, on the Lord. Psalm 27:12 & 14 (KJV)
Updates: ensured Figure and caption uniformity; changed to larger Font for all post-body text; some grammatical, logic; and spelling errors / omissions corrected; edited and corrected facts regarding USFS AFUE Quisling text and added several supporting legal documents
