Juliann Ashcraft sobbed as she recounted the bravery of her beloved husband and his close unit of highly-trained 'hotshot' colleagues, who were overcome by the ferocious flames in Yarnell Hill. Join Us at 4:30 (EST) on December 4, 2020 Online for the . While her. They were invincible. 2013 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Our kids will remember them as heroes as well.. She has anew baby brother, Owen. Heartbroken: Juliann Ashcraft, cries alongside her father Tom Ashcraft outside of the Granite Mountain Hotshot fire station in Prescott on Monday July 1, Struggle: Juliann Ashcraft, left, will only get a one-off payment of $328,000 and workers' compensation. The crew had battled fires in New Mexico and Arizona in recent weeks. There was silence for a moment. 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. ', Beneitone said athletic prowess was a must for the Hotshots. 'It's an extreme measure that's taken under the absolute worst conditions. Family photographs reveal a picture perfect family as Juliann and Andrew are seen grinning and kissing, as well as laughing along with their four young children. Asked what probably went through his mind when he pulled out his fire shelter, Juliann Ashcraft said: "I think probably in that last moment, we have four babies. Elite team: A photo from April 12, 2012 shows a squad leader with the Granite Mountain Hotshots training crew members on setting up emergency fire shelters outside of Prescott, Arizona, Last hope: The firefighters deployed the emergency shelters on Sunday but died (picture from April 2012), Emergency shelter: Firefighters dig into the earth and lay in the shelters, hoping the fire will pass over them, At work: Members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots are pictured working in New Mexico last year, Experts: Members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots work on a ridge line in Mogollon, New Mexico last June, Dangerous: Firefighters spray water on a restaurant to help protect it from flames in the Glenn Ilah area, Fast-moving: The fire started with a lightning strike on Friday and spread to 2,000 acres on Sunday, Aid: The Red Cross has set up a shelter at the Yavapai College in Prescott, Arizona. That's why he did what he did, because he want to protect the community where he lived. Watch: Hotshots training unveiled in 60 Minutes report. Ashcraft did not think it would be this much of an issue. Billy had served four years in the Marine Corps, including a tour in Iraq. As much as he loved his crew, I know in some way he must have thought of My God, I can't be leaving my family, she said. Do not sell or share my personal information. July 3, 2013 / 5:33 AM And she wasglad she brought Billie Grace. Everybody fighting the fire are Daddy Billys friends. Juliann Ashcraft always knew her husband had a dangerous job fighting wildfires, but he was one of the elite -- a Granite Mountain Hotshot. On Monday, Juliann was pictured at a makeshift memorial in Prescott for the fallen firefighters. . What's in U.S. foods that Europe deems unfit for human consumption? They remove brush, trees and anything that might burn in the direction of homes and cities. Yes, Roxanne told her. They died together - doing what they loved.'. Andrew Ashcraft, 29, was dad to four kids. She noticed that everybody who used to work with her father wore green pants. Joe Woyjeck, Loved: The bodies of Wade Parker, 22, left, and 21-year-old Woyjeck, right, were retrieved on Monday, Heroes: A group photograph shows members of the Prescott Granite Mountain Hotshots, Andrew Ashcraft - 29Robert Caldwell - 23Travis Carter - 31Dustin Deford - 24Christopher MacKenzie - 30Eric Marsh - 43Grant McKee - 21Sean Misner - 26Scott Norris - 28Wade Parker - 22John Percin - 24Anthony Rose - 23Jesse Steed - 36Joe Thurston - 32Travis Turbyfill - 27William Warneke - 25Clayton Whitted - 28Kevin Woyjeck - 21Garret Zuppiger - 27, 'Their situational awareness and their training was at such a high level that it's unimaginable that this has even happened.'. ", Juliann Ashcraft always knew her husband had a dangerous job fighting wildfires, but he was one of the elite -- a Granite Mountain Hotshot. It was zero per cent contained late Sunday. Her palms grew sweaty. Juliann Ashcraft, wife of Granite Mountain Hotshot Andrew Ashcraft, gave a beautiful talk about her family's gratitude journey after Andrew's death. Inside Edition Investigates as Over 2,000 ER Visits in Last Decade Involved Them, Ohio Train Derailment: EPA Cracks Down on Hazardous Waste Removal as Federal Agents Go Door to Door, Bryan Kohberger Fights Bids to Lift Gag Order By Parties Seeking New Details About Murder Investigation, Honduran Man Dies From Injuries Sustained After Falling From the US-Mexico Border Barrier, Shovel, Bloody Rope Found in Car That Belonged to Ex of Teacher Found Slain in Shallow Grave: Prosecutor. The names of all 19 members of the elite firefighting crew who perished in the blaze were released late on Monday, after their bodies were retrieved from the mountain where they died. "I don't know that that's sunk in for them, but I've not stopped thinking about that. First published on August 5, 2013 / 7:54 PM. He often asks Roxanne, What do you think Billy would want?. Juliann Ashcraft is as sure of that as she is sure an outpouring of support from across the country saved her life when her husband died two years ago. Some mornings she will come into the kitchen and stretch dramatically. Andrew Ashcraft was a firefighter, a member of an elite hotshot team. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. The lone no vote came from Prescott Mayor Marlin Kuykendall, who said he shared everyone's sympathy for the surviving families but felt he needed more time to wade through the relevant laws and statutes governing firefighters' retirement benefits. Shortly after the tragedy, Inside Edition brought together eight of the widows. "They loved what they did. 'One of the last fail safe methods that a firefighter can do under those conditions is literally to dig as much as they can down and cover themselves with a protective - kinda looks like a foil type - fire-resistant material - with the desire, the hope at least, is that the fire will burn over the top of them and they can survive it,' Fraijo said. Taking Vitamin D each day could cut your chances of getting dementia, study claims. Another, Roxanne Warneke, who lives just outside Tucson, has. She says her husband and his fellow firefighters loved what they did and shares how she and her four children are coping with the loss.July 2, 2013. Mike Krumboltz. Another board member, Wade Ward of the Prescott Fire Department, said the question was difficult because "everything that we've gone through and continue to go through is unprecedented. Now the fire had shut down that route. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. It was unclear exactly how the crew became trapped. But being the wife of a firefighter is like becoming part of a family. "That's why I never worried for their safety. 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. Play it now! Mr Ashcraft, like his colleagues, was protecting the people of Yarnell when he died, tragically leaving his young family without a husband, father or income. Ms. Ashcraft said Thursday that not . It was 20 percent contained and awind had kicked up. Juliann Ashcraft's husband, Andrew, was one of 19 firefighters killed battling a wildfire near Yarnell, Arizona on June 30. Juliann Ashcraft's husband, Andrew, was one of 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots firefighters who lost their lives when a fire they were battling suddenly changed direction and engulfed them. That they are missed and that they're still going to live on in our lives and in the lives of our kids. We just lost 19 of the finest people you'll ever meet.'. Shocking video shows machete fight playing out in broad daylight, Huge urgent police search for missing baby of Constance Marten, Pupils take to TikTok as they stage protest at Shenfield High School, Gabor Mat: No Jewish state without oppressing local population, Putin spy plane before being 'destroyed by pro-Ukraine Belarus group', Amplified jet stream could lead to 'disruptive snow in places', King Charles hosts von der Leyen at Windsor Castle, Dashcam captures moment two cars collide on a roundabout, Putin orders intelligence service to find 'scum' who oppose him, Moment supermarket cashier is attacked at work in New York, Police search allotment sheds for Constance Marten's missing baby, Dramatic moment police cars chase driver moments before smash. "Quite literally, my bills are being paid by the good people of the world who are giving donations, because the city of Prescott isn't doing anything for us," she said. Nearly the whole teams was wiped out by the fire, Devastated: Nancy Myers speaks to her boss to let him know that she won't be able to make it into work, Tears: A group of girls cry after placing flowers at a make-shift memorial outside the Prescott fire station, Loss: Flowers hang on the fence outside the Granite Mountain Hot Shot Crew fire station. Watch Firefighters Rescue 2 Baby Deer From Wildfire: Smoky Bear Would Be Proud. Nineteen shelters were deployed and some of the firefighters were found inside them, Mike Reichling from the Arizona State Forestry Division told the Arizona Republic. He was a father of four young children. 1. 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From nightmares to candy cravings, the seemingly innocuous habits in Man is banned from touching every parking meter in Liverpool for two years after being convicted of theft. King World Productions Inc. 2023 Inside Edition Inc. and CBS interactive Inc., Paramount companies. They fought fires together. She says her husband and his fellow firefighters "loved what they did" and shares how she and . The NEW woke words of the day: 'Rage farming', 'pinkwashing', 'trauma dumping' and 'Latine' are among 313 'I don't know if I can trust them': Mel B reveals she 'wouldn't call the police' over domestic violence - Is YOUR wood burner at risk? Through my experience, I have learned life is a gift. Loss: Kevin Woyjeck, left, and Wade Parker, right, were among the firefighters who lost their lives on Sunday as they tried to battle a massive wildfire in Yarnell Hill, Arizona. He had followed in the footsteps of his father, Mike MacKenzie (left), who was once the fire captain of Moreno Valley, California, Tragedy: Mackenzie, pictured left and right, died as the men tried to climb into emergency shelters, Killed: Travis Turbyfill, pictured with his family, also died with his team on the mountainside, Fallen: Scott Norris, pictured, was one of the 19 victims, Disbelief: David Turbyfill is comforted by his wife Shari as he mourns his son Travis Turbyfill on Monday, President Obama called the firefighters heroes and highly skilled professionals who 'put themselves in harm's way to protect the lives and property of fellow citizens they would never meet.'. "As shocked as I was that my husband went to work and never came home, I'm equally shocked in how the city has treated our family since then," she said. In fact, he was one of 19 wildland firefighters who died in the line of duty that day, with just one member of the crew surviving. She took in a breath and slowly let it out. I wanted to take her so she could have a positive outlook on fire instead of a negative one, Roxanne said. Watch Live: Closing arguments begin in double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, Intel review says "very unlikely" foreign adversary behind "Havana Syndrome", Ex-Georgia star Jalen Carter was racing in deadly crash, arrest warrants allege, Watch Live: Garland testifies amid ongoing special counsel investigations, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students. In June 2013, when the fire swept through Yarnell, Roxanne was pregnant with their first child, a daughter, born six months after Billy died. ", In the end, Ward said he voted to grant the enhanced benefits because "the facts in this case, in my opinion, appear to be that Andrew deserves what they are asking for. 'We're devastated. We just lost 19 of the finest people you'll ever meet.'. 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I tell them how much he loves them and that he's with them. Andrew Ashcraft, 29, seen here with his wife, Juliann Ashcraft, was one of 19 elite "hotshot" firefighters killed in an Arizona wildfire this week. Abandoned blue sleeping bag, tents and several wooden shelters are found in woodland close to where police Runaway aristocrat and her boyfriend were spotted stocking up on supplies at food bank in Brighton without Taxpayers are left 31,000 out of pocket after council auctions off its Queen's Jubilee wicker corgi statues School places in chaos: Parents' desperation as one in three children miss out on preferred secondary - with Tragedy of the peroxide Tinkerbell: Ahead of a new documentary, ALISON BOSHOFF recalls how TV siren Paula Don't just stick to the Malbec! That is not common language, because usually he gets a thrill form the fire, a thrill from being there helping, and this was a different scenario.". 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