The Arizona Republic, Tom Story / AP
Members of the US Forest Service’s Blue Ridge Hotshots, foreground, and other firefighters watch as the Yarnell Hill Fire advances on the town of Yarnell, Ariz., Sunday, June 30, 2013. The crew vehicles (buggies) for the Granite Mountain Hotshots are the white vehicles parked at center and right. 18 members of the Granite Mountain crew were killed fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013 | 8:18 p.m.
PRESCOTT, Ariz. — Fire officials say the Arizona wildfire that claimed the lives of 19 firefighters is 8 percent contained.
The new containment figure Tuesday evening marked the first clear sign of progress against the forest fire in the town of Yarnell being fought by nearly 600 firefighters.
It had been zero percent contained since Sunday when flames jumped amid shifting winds and created a death trap for 19 members of a Prescott-based Hotshot crew.
The day marked the nation's biggest loss of firefighters since 9/11, and it came as hot, dry weather hit the Southwest.
Jim Whittington, spokesman for Southwest Incident Command Team, said the fire remains at roughly 8,400 acres.
Containment was primarily along the northeast corner and southeast flank of the fire. Firefighters will try to get the whole east side contained tomorrow and continue to work the corners of the fire from there.
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy