At least 19 firefighters were killed battling a wildfire in Arizona, a spokesman with the Yavapai County Sheriff’s office said late Sunday, updating an earlier toll of 18 given by the fire department. They died sometime late Sunday afternoon while fighting to contain the Yarnell Hill wildfire north of Phoenix, spokesman Steve Skurga told AFP, without giving further details. He was unable to confirm whether the dead were the same 19 firefighters reported to be missing earlier Sunday by the Arizona State Forestry Division. Arizona Senator Jeff Blake posted on his twitter feed: “I am sick with the news. Prayers go out to all affected.” A state forestry official told CNN the firefighters were from a local “hotshot” crew who had been digging a fire line to contain the blaze.
19 firefighters killed in Arizona blaze
