A sudden windstorm turned an Arizona forest fire into an out-of-control inferno that trapped and killed 19 firefighters, nearly all of them members of an elite crew of “hotshots,” authorities said Monday. It was the nation’s biggest loss of firefighters in a wildfire in 80 years.
The flames swept over the victims Sunday evening as they took cover in their foil-lined emergency shelters.
“This is as dark a day as I can remember,” Gov. Jan Brewer said in a statement. “It may be days or longer before an investigation reveals how this tragedy occurred, but the essence we already know in our hearts: Fighting fires is dangerous work
I – Word Understanding
Windstorm – of very strong wind with little or almost no rain (or snow)
Elite crew – a group of highly trained members (firefighters)
II – Have your say
1. Many wildland fires are ignited by lightning…but more than 80% of wildfires are started by humans.
2. In Thailand, deliberate wildfires are lit by local farmers to promote the growth of certain mushrooms.
3. Firefighters have a 100% risk of developing cancer, and are 300x more likely to suffer a heart attack at work.
