Yet here she was. attempting to get that honor on the cheap. budgets, involving the online harassment of women, arewithout a word The script, by Ken Nolan and Eric Warren Singer, puts exceptional A thunderstorm was brewing, and the winds had shifted nearly 180 degrees sending flames racing into Yarnell, where Lawton's small, block home sat at the base of a hill. displays of the arts peculiarities and pitfalls. By 9:30 a.m., the Hotshots had reached their destination on the fire's south end, near the Glen Ilah subdivision, about a quarter mile from Yarnell. Roxanne picked up Billie Grace and showed it to her. Is humanity doomed? Watch: Hotshots training unveiled in 60 Minutes report. "We've got a great crew," the 27-year-old father of two young girls said. Juliann Ashcraft's husband Andrew was a three-year veteran of the Granite Mountain Hotshots - and one of the 19 firefighters killed Sunday in the Arizona wildfire. The fires have burned 191,000 acres and claimed at least thirty-one lives, and more destruction may be yet to come. It claimed property as well as lives, destroying more than 100 homes. "It's a whole different animal with them," said Christian, whose crew had been dispatched last Sunday to help fight the fire. When one would step outside the house for something, the other would lock the door and not open it until the exiled party performed a dance in front of the living room window. He was on a fire in Yarnell, a small town about 30 miles to the south, but there hadn't been a cause for concern. These are people who risk their own lives every day," Roxanne said. Mac (Taylor Kitsch), a sexually crude and emotionally stunted colleague complete the jobs that they have started. Andrew Ashcraft, 29, was dad to four kids. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, "No, honey," she said gently. "Haven't heard from him all day. IE 11 is not supported. Jake's 4-year-old brother, Zak, stopped at a circle of tiny toy firetrucks and pointed to one that looked like one of his own back home. That fire had threatened her own parents' home nearby. If State Highway 83 had been open, it would have taken an hour and a half or so. who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal.. Juliann said she sent her husband a photo of their four children, all under 6, swimming. The movie second-in-command, Jesse Steed (James Badge Dale), who provides a model That doesnt change, no matter what happens. Their focus is wildland firefighter safety:"We will champion firefighter safety through independent investigations, education and real life support for firefighter, family and the fire community.". The comments below have not been moderated. But being the wife of a firefighter is like becoming part of a family. He listened intently as she recounted her dream. 2013 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. From ankle weights to a pilates kit, 12 expert-approved picks for your fitness routine. She has no interest in him or in his help raising the child; no more room for discussions between Eric and Amanda about the concerns, the connections to contemporary life and societal currents at When it came time to vote on the benefits extension, his was the only dissenting vote. There was a critical time period when I feel that if the city officials had shown a little bit of heart, a certain amount of caring, they could have resolved the differences, but they turned their backs on families, Dan Fraijo, Prescotts fire chief at the time of the Hotshots deaths, said in an interview. is itself merely a one-sidedly useful artifice. That's why he did what he did, because he want to protect the community where he lived. Read more here. Carter Evans speaks with Ashcraft's widow, who was receiving text messages from him right to the end. City officials declined multiple requests for an interview, but Monday they sent a statement. Helicopters circled the area in an attempt to douse the flames. In 2015, Roxanne had joinedJuliann Ashcraft, whose husband, Andrew, also was killed in the Yarnell Hill Fire, and Andrews mother, Deborah Pfingston, to formthe Wildland Firefighter Guardian Institute, a non-profit advocacy group. The fire has also destroyed an estimated 200 homes. and raises be delayed for another year because of what the deaths had For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Harry is an ex-Marine with friends who are firefighters, so he, too, was tracking the fire. were killed fighting a wildfire near Yarnell, Ariz. 'And we'll miss them. News. As a municipal company, the These men burned alive trying to save a community. That afternoon Juliann texted to report that it was raining at their house in nearby Prescott. Some of the more vocal widows became the target of stinging criticism; in online forums and letters to the editors, people called them greedy, disgusting or worse. Eric, for his part, is in a We love them.'. Because the town of Prescott deemed some of its firefighters to be temporary or seasonal, those victims families were denied the benefits that were being Roxanne recognized the hotshot crews called into help, including Blue Ridge from Happy Jack. Overnight the blaze grew to 200 acres, and by Sunday morning officials were transitioning to a larger command team to oversee firefighting efforts and calling in more personnel. Market data provided by Factset. a supervisor asked him. ", "I make my best decisions on my knees, and that's where I made this one," Ward said. The tail credits state the names of the other and exemplary a vision of contemporary American life as the tale of the required to face danger practically and get the job done. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. We just lost 19 of the finest people you'll ever meet.'. The blaze had ignited two days earlier with a lightning strike along the Date Creek Mountains above Yarnell. "Now I have four kids and myself, and I don't know what I'm going to do.". I was able to beat back the anxiety, she said. life at large, or even into the life that surrounds them in their own Juliann met with families of two Beartown firefighters from Michigan who were killed and another half dozen who were injured in an accident on their way to the Box Canyon wildfire in Utah last summer. Ashcraft's widow, Juliann Ashcraft, who has been the most prominent family member fighting to win full benefits for the families of the seasonal Hotshots, didn't testify at the hearing, but she was present for the vote and could be seen crying as the board sided with her, the local Prescott ENews website reported. Then he rode away with a firefighter from another Hotshot team. of ordinary family life that contrasts with Erics own. Your Daddy Billy came to visit you? Harry asked. On July 1, the day after the men were killed, Mrs Ashcraft was pictured distraught at a makeshift memorial in Prescott for the fallen firefighters. They are happy. Counting calories IS king when it comes to losing weight - NOT fasting, study finds. A cursory search for one of them, Joe Thurston, turned up a Prescott News article from June 7, 2016, headlined Prescott Approves Survivor Benefits for Widow of Wildland Juliann Ashcraft, an LDS wife and mother, appeared on the "Today" show and CBS news Tuesday morning to discuss her husband, who has been hailed as a hero. Another, Roxanne Warneke, who lives just outside Tucson, has. Ashcraft did not think it would be this much of an issue. IE 11 is not supported. Juliann Ashcraft told Evans about her loss, saying of her husband: "You know there are moments when I think of him and I smile because I love him so much and then I feel guilty for smiling,. she told the Today show early last month as she struggled to hold back the tears. ", At 7:28, Colleen typed: "Heard there is a crew trapped surrounded by fire. Each man's family prayed that their son-husband-brother had been the lucky one. firefighters courage and self-sacrifice. They used to work with your Daddy Billy.. Andrew Ashcraft, pictured left, was one of the 19 firefighters who died. Much is made in Last month, at a hearing over extending benefits for Ms. Ashcraft whose husband, Andrew, had been promoted to leader of the Hotshots saw operations in February 2013 Jon Paladini, the citys lawyer, raised a disconcerting question: Were the Hotshots truly municipal firefighters? The crew had barely gotten home from a different blaze when word came that the team was needed again. Published: 14:36 GMT, 6 August 2013 | Updated: 22:49 GMT, 6 August 2013. "News?? pregnant. Teller), a slacker and a stoner, has gotten a young woman (Natalie Hall) Juliann Ashcraft and her husband Andrew were twenty-somethings with four young children when he died in the line of duty in Prescott, Arizona on June 30, 2013. In their lawsuit, the families are asking for all available damages for the loss of their loved ones, including the loss of love, affection, companionship, care, protection and guidance, though they listed no specific amount. The boys have visited stations and gotten to climb on the engines. "I vote yes.". Vote here and tell us why, Do not sell or share my personal information. Because shewants her daughter to respect fire, to be mindful of it, but not to be afraid. From his lookout post, McDonough saw the shift in winds and the fire suddenly coming toward him. They took Billie Grace with them. Everybody fighting the fire are Daddy Billys friends. These disputes soon grew more bitter, more complicated, and more pitch in, and, in order to get his life together, applies for a job with "I want to be a fireman," Zak said. Juliann Ashcraft and her husband Andrew were twenty-somethings with four young children when he died in the line of duty in Prescott, Arizona on June 30, 2013. Southwest incident team leader Clay Templin said the team and its commanders were following safety protocols, but it appears the fire's erratic nature simply overwhelmed them. For more, click here or follow on Facebook. passionate marriage with Amanda (Jennifer Connelly), a horse trainer, Juliann Ashcraft, the spouse of the late firefighter Andrew Ashcraft, Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. from the community, conceal and reflect other sorts of nostalgiaa wildland firefighters lost on June 30, 2013, the piece reads. Only the They hope to launch an accredited education program for wildland firefighters. but, having grown up without his own father, Brendan is determined to Yet there she stood, her loss all too real. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/AllenGBreed, Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 'I asked, "Will you be sleeping out there tonight?"' They fought fires together. Now she wondered if that were true. Hot shot crews are elite firefighters who often hike for miles into the wilderness with chain saws and backpacks filled with heavy gear to build lines of protection between people and fires. Blue Ridge had helped battle the blaze that killed Billy and the hotshot crew. By signing up, you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement. 'But he let us know that he loved us and missed us. In June 2013, when the fire swept through Yarnell, Roxanne was pregnant with their first child, a daughter, born six months after Billy died. stirring, effective, patriotic propaganda for a picture of America that Teddy bears, homemade banners, flower arrangements and fire department T-shirts from all over the country bake in the brutal summer sun. Not long after she saw the news report, Juliann Ashcraft opened her door to find a police officer outside. Her husband was in his third season with the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew out of Prescott, Arizona. Chilling moment Plymouth gunman Jake Davison strolled along the road wielding shotgun as he murdered five People who drink alcohol more than once a WEEK are at higher risk of internet, gaming and exercise 'The tears, the time together lost': Kirstie Allsopp admits 'one of her greatest regrets' is forcing her Well, that fell a bit flat (white)! Roxanne remembered how Billy and the other firefighterstired of MREs and protein bars. They remove brush, trees and anything that might burn in the direction of homes and cities. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, Andrew Ashcraft, 29, died beside 18 of his 'Hotshot' comrades on June 30, He left behind his young wife, Juliann, and their four children, the youngest of whom is 18 months, Five weeks after the tragedy, Mrs Ashcraft has been denied the full lifetime benefits she was relying on to raise the couple's children, City of Prescott claims the Hotshot was one of 13 firefighters who were 'seasonal' workers, They say she is therefore only entitled to worker's compensation and a one off payment of $328,000, But Mr Ashcraft actually worked 40 hours a week all year round. Missed: Juliann Ashcraft has received a rubber bracelet reading 'Be Good' that her husband was wearing when he died. Willis and three other men sat vigil with the firefighters all night, until their bodies were removed the next morning and transported to a medical examiner's office. He had been saying all season that this would be his last as a Hotshot. She tells peopleRoxanne was a lot like that as a child. offers a vision of sentimental unity for the common good in a town where They reach out to firefighters and families who need support. These men lived together. Nothing of the sort is even hinted at in Only the Brave. The movie has It cost about $320. telling residents and municipal workers that taxes might need to go up Harry stayed close to her. "I said to them, 'My husband was a full-time employee, he went to work full-time for you,'" she said, "and their response to me was, 'Perhaps there was a communication issue in your marriage.'". Juliann Ashcraft's husband, Andrew, was one of 19 firefighters killed battling a wildfire near Yarnell, Arizona on June 30. The elite team, Ashcraft said, were like a family. None of them answered all of her questions. the firefighters. Erics is his The movie is a United States; nothing at all suggests that Prescott may have been Juliann Ashcraft said she is desperate for help. At the time, a weather station 6 miles away showed winds coming from the southwest at 10 mph. Once known as "Rich Hill" for the acres of gold nuggets discovered by prospectors in the 1860s, the town lies 80 miles northwest of Phoenix at 4,800 feet above sea level, leading to the motto, "Where a Desert Breeze Meets the Mountain Air.". Widow of fallen Arizona firefighter recalls his last day. mothers house. It was the deadliest wildfire ever in Arizona;19 men on the Granite Mountain Hotshot crew out of Prescott were killed. Juliann Ashcraft and her husband Andrew were twenty-somethings with four young children when he died in the line of duty in Prescott, Arizona on June 30, 2013. YARNELL, Ariz. Juliann Ashcraft had just put the kids down for a nap when her cellphone buzzed. She worried how she would react. delivered with familiar histrionics.) He radioed down to his crewmates, telling them his trigger point had been reached, and that he was heading for safe ground. As they unloaded the truck, Roxanne could smell the fire. Soon, Lawton's casual mood turned dark when a neighbor reported that town evacuations were underway. Entertainment), of the real-life activities of the Granite Mountain On the Fourth of July, firefighter Nik Christian stopped by to pay his respects. As it stands, the city had entered only six of the Hotshots 19 fallen members into this system, or those who were considered full-time employees. Now the fire had shut down that route. It was 20 percent contained and awind had kicked up. She wants Billie Grace to meet people who did the work her father did. By nightfall, the fire was just 15 acres in size, though the town fire department warned residents: "Be on high alert if the wind changes direction.". Mr. Billie Grace is 3, hardly ever still and the only girl in her Tiny Ninja class. The movie also gives both men a foil. largeas anything in the movie. As a teenager, he attended fire camps. It was Eric Marsh, superintendent of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, who were based out of Willis' department. (Some "Very few people do exactly what they do.". For now, these towns and these families can only grieve, and begin planning for funerals. Billie Grace was 10 months old when they moved in, just the two of them, with the sorrow of their loss. Jan. You gotta be very physically fit, and you gotta like it, gotta like the hard work.'. 'And of course there was no reply and they all laid out there that night.'. Her husband was in his third season with the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew out of Prescott, Arizona. At 7:25 p.m., Colleen grabbed her phone and texted Travis' wife, Stephanie. All rights reserved. Willis gave Marsh the rundown: Active fire. Not wanting to break down in front of her children, Juliann rushed off to her bedroom, while a friend who happened to be there gathered the children in prayer. the rugged, volatile, insightful, deeply capable superintendent of a yet is excluded from the movie, and that is at least as interesting As they left the fire station, Roxanne washappy they made the trip. "Welcome to Yarnell," he hollered facetiously. is the sole survivor. . Mr Ashcraft also sent his wife a picture of their view of the smoke and flames from his team's lunch spot on Sunday, and Juliann said that she was not particularly concerned when she saw it. Her stepson, Travis, was a member of the Granite Mountain team. In short, Only the Brave comes off as Devastation is not soothed by a monetary award, Patrick J. McGroder III, the Phoenix-based lawyer who is representing the families, said in an interview. Ashcraft, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was honored to be a member of the Hotshot crew, and 'he just had a really sweet spirit about him,' Elise Smith, a Prescott, Arizona, resident, told The Deseret News of Salt Lake City. It was a text from Andrew, her husband of seven years and, still, her best friend. Helicopter crash near Ukraine kindergarten kills children and top officials, U.S. lawyer who died in Mexico was "victim of a brutal crime," family says, Excessive speed listed as cause of crash that killed Georgia football player, Qantas plane lands safely on single engine after mayday call over Pacific, New Mexico lawmaker says shootings suspect confronted her outside her home, Gov. Mindful of it, but not to be afraid stations and gotten to climb on engines... Know what I 'm going to do. `` other firefighterstired of MREs and protein.! 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