Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona

I was able to help in a small way by serving as a Red Cross PIO yesterday at one of the shelters for survivors of the tragic Yarnell Hill Fire. Sheriff's Officers were meeting one-on-one to tell victims if their homes were destroyed. The Incident Commander briefed evacuees on the size of the fire, which killed 19 firefighters on Sunday and is still less than 50 percent contained. The media was out in force, including a national ABC-TV camera crew, and I was interviewed by an Arizona Republic reporter. I interviewed a family that raced down the mountain just steps ahead of what they described as a "fireball tornado" and listened as they described what they said was the most terrifying experience of their lives. Their eldest son, 11, has announced that he wants to be a firefighter when he grows up.  

You can read the complete story I wrote here: http://newsroom.redcross.org/2013/07/04/story-yarnell-hill-fire/

This is Karen Patterson, the woman I interviewed.

This is Ethan's drawing.