Arizona State OSHA to release findings on Yarnell Hill Fire fatalities Wednesday, December 4

Granite Mountain HotshotsThe Associated Press and the Prescott Daily Courier are reporting that the Arizona version of the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration will disclose their version of an investigation into the deaths of 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots on Wednesday. The firefighters were entrapped and killed while suppressing the Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona on June 30. Their requirements are that the report must be complete no later than six months after their investigation was announced, which would make it due no later than the first part of January, 2014.

The Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health will formally present their findings to the Industrial Commission of Arizona, their parent agency, at a 1 p.m. public meeting Wednesday, December 4, in the 1st Floor Auditorium, 800 West Washington, Phoenix, Arizona.

Both media organizations said the agency will recommend citations and penalties against state organizations. An agenda that has been released for the meeting said “Discussion & Action of OSHA Proposed Citations & Penalties. Arizona State Forestry Division, State of Arizona”, but does not mention the Yarnell Hill Fire.

The Arizona State Forestry Division, responsible for the management of the fire, released a Serious Accident Investigation report on September 28, 2013. That report, produced by an army of 54 people, found:

The judgments and decisions of the incident management organizations managing this fire were reasonable. Firefighters performed within their scope of duty, as defined by their respective organizations. The Team found no indication of negligence, reckless actions, or violations of policy or protocol.

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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.