yards to where the men deployed their fire shelters in 19 seconds.

The fire that would soon take 19 lives would also burn over 100 homes and structures, not sparing even the Shrine of St. Joseph’s retreat center, which lost a gift shop, two dormitories, a caretaker’s house and a crucifix.

Firefighters attend a candlelight vigil in honor of the fallen firefighters at Prescott High School on July 2, 2013, Prescott, Ariz. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The problems posed by fire in the wildland-urban Interface are not new.

In one of two investigative reports examining the events leading up to the crew’s deaths, the Arizona Forestry Division was cited and fined for sending the men to defend homes deemed indefensible. The state is appealing the fine.

Some neighborhoods participate in Firewise, a National Fireflags adorn the fence outside of Station 7 on July 3, 2013, in Prescott, Ariz. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Credits

Project Produced and Edited by Greg Gilderman and Neil Katz

Video Producers: John Carlos Frey and Joe Halderman

Video Consulting Producer: John Dougherty

Article Author: Stacey Solie

Photo Editor: Edecio Martinez

Video Executive Producers: Greg Gilderman, Neil Katz, Shawn Efran

Special Thanks: The wives and families of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, and Wade Ward of the Prescott, Arizona Fire Department.