The Latest: Navajo Nation Crew Deployed Fire Shelters

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

The Latest: Navajo Nation Crew Deployed Fire Shelters

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS POTRERO, Calif. — Jun 29, 2016, 8:29 PM ET

The Latest on a wildfires burning in the U.S. West (all times local):

5:30 p.m.

A group of firefighters who had to deploy their fire shelters this week while battling an Arizona blaze were part of the Navajo Interagency Hotshot Crew.

Six firefighters in the 20-member crew deployed their shelters Tuesday, a few days after the three-year anniversary of a fire that claimed the lives of 19 Yarnell Hotshot crewmembers.

The Yarnell Hotshots deployed their fire shelters in a last-ditch effort to save themselves. The lightweight cocoons are made of reflective material and are intended as a firefighter's last resort.

The six who deployed their shelters Tuesday were treated for smoke inhalation but were otherwise uninjured. They haven't been identified.

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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/latest-fire-forces-evacuations-california-foothills-40218120

[MADem]

1. How wonderful that they survived! nt

[Warpy]

2. Yeah, those "shake and bake" shelters can work

as long as they keep rolling to get the burning material off them. If they're deployed in a fairly sparsely overgrown area or a partially burned area, that's where they work best.

A lot of the tribal people around here are seasonal hotshots, it's one way to make a year's money in six to eight months when there's very little work for them on the rez. It's dirty, dangerous and utterly essential work and they're worth their weight in gold.