On June 30 , 2013 , 19 members of the 20-man group died fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire . Only Brendan McDonough survived . The firefighters had apparently deployed fire shelters , but not all of the bodies were found inside them . According to the National Fire Protection Association , it was the greatest loss of life for firefighters in a wildfire since 1933 , the deadliest wildfire of any kind since 1991 , and the greatest loss of firefighters in the United States since the September 11 attacks . Vice President Joe Biden attended the memorial and stated , " All men are created equal . But then , a few became firefighters . "
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Prescott Fire Department