New featurette released for “Only the Brave” movie

(Originally published at 9 a.m. MDT September 12, 2017)

A new three and a half minute featurette has been released for the film about the Yarnell Hill Fire, Only the Brave, which is billed as the “true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots”.

On June 30, 2013 19 members of the firefighters on the crew were killed after the wind shifted and they were overrun by the fire.

In July a two and a half minute trailer was released, but this version adds a few scenes including very brief interviews with one of the producers, a former Granite Mountain Hotshot, and some of the leading actors. As the featurette ends, Josh Brolin who plays Crew Superintendent Eric Marsh says to the camera:

Every person who sees this movie is gonna want to wave a little bit longer to every firefighter they see.

As the vignette ends there is a graphic encouraging viewers to donate to the “Granite Mountain Fund”, which is an organization new to us. The fund’s web site describes their intentions…..

“The Philanthropic initiative of the film “Only the Brave,” drives donations to support firefighting as well as the towns and families connected to and impacted by hotshots and their work.

“Donations for the Granite Mountain Fund will benefit the following organizations:

  • Wildland Firefighter Foundation
  • Eric Marsh Foundation
  • Kevin Woyjeck Explorers Foundation
  • Prescott Firefighter’s Charities
  • California Firefighters Foundation
  • Carry the Load”

The film will open in theaters October 20.

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

9 thoughts on “New featurette released for “Only the Brave” movie”

  1. I can anticipate a bit of an unnecessary Family Feud about just who are the Forest Service’s “Most Elite” firefighters. There are, of course, the Smokejumpers. It is said- “How can you tell if there is a Smokejumper in the Bar?”

    “You don’t have to- he’ll tell you!”

    OK- I did a Season with the Shasta Hotshots in California and then applied and was accepted for the Region I Smokejumpers in Missoula, where I did four seasons. Progressing through Hotshot Crews is a very common path to Smokejumpers.

    Looking back, the missions of the two groups were dissimilar. The Hotshot Crew operated as a Unit. Even the method of building Fireline was different. The Hotshots worked together as a crew, while the Smokejumpers were most definitely a collection of individuals. While the Hotshot crews deployed and worked as a unit, the Jumpers were most useful in hitting a small fire with a small crew and preventing it from spreading. The smallest fires I Jumped were 2 manners on smouldering snags- I also, once, jumped with 63 other guys- 4 DC-3 Loads- on a big one too far into the Wilderness to be practically reached by Ground Crews.

    And everything in between.

    The ‘Shot Guys were every bit as professional and dedicated as we were. Lots of mutual respect.

    Looking forward to the Movie.

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  2. The trailer is a typical Hollywood version of wildland fire fighting. I did it for more than 25 years. The only true thing in this trailer is that it is lots of hot and dangerous work, performed by just average folks. Hotshot firefighters are indeed more than average and more than talented when led by above average crew leaders. But, anything less can lead to tragedy and does. If you have to deploy your “shake and bake” then you have already violated one on the ten cardinal rules of firefighting.
    I won’t go to see the movie with its digital fires, Hollywood script and unrealistic attitudes and situations.

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  3. I tend to avoid “wildfire” movies. I most likely will not go and see this movie. It may try to be a docudrama, but from the trailers I can see things that are wrong. While I did not know any of the HS crew members, I did know some of the Type III overhead and knew the State Forester at the time.

    I have read every report/investigation that I could find regarding the Yarnell Hill fire. There are some questions that we will never know the answers. The people who know died in the incident.
    Having been involved in some accident investigations with fatalities or near fatalities, 30 years involved in wildfire, I just can’t seem to bring myself to go see the film.

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    1. Only a matter of curiosity, not dismissal here. Ever been on the ground with a McCloud, Pulaski, or a chainsaw, digging line and backfiring? Every level of separation, every step up the ladder takes one away from the experience that is going on with the firefighter. Every degree of separation and every year of experience makes a difference too. The fire looks different from the eyes of a green firefighter who is being mentored in the work, and the seasoned firefighter whose job it is to mentor him. It looks a lot different to the arsonist, the artist, the writer, the Fire Behaviorist, the old supers, transport, supply, camp manager, traffic control, dispatch, LEO, overhead, payroll, pilots, water resources, and the personnel clerk. A fire and response is too complex for any one person to really know it all. Working your a55 off and having your own neck stretched out on the line is a very personal, intimate experience that can be learned in no other way. In that, it is like Mark Twain’s comment about the lessons learned from picking up a wild cat by its tail. It will climb your face. Like sex, you will never be able to adequately convey the experience to another who wasn’t “there”.

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    2. Thank you for all your hard work. You are a Hero to so many now and threw the future generations. I love your share. I feel the same way. With my husband and son also Fighting Fire it’s a hard thing to digest any of this. My husband’s crew took over for our Fallen Hero’s after this tragedy. This will forever sit deeply within our familie’s soul. With the knowledge of what they went threw that terrible day . It makes the digestive thought to leave completely. We all must never forget ! To protect the Heros of tomorrow. I pray for them and their families left without them. Again thank you.

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  4. I think the trailer looks cheesy and full of typical unrealistic things that will happen especially when its made by Hollywood.

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  5. After fighting to get off the mountain during the Gatlinburg wildfire, I have to admit when I saw this trailer in the theater last month, I almost walked out twice but I still want to see it. It appears to be an excellent movie.

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