Procession Bringing Home Bodies Of 19 Fallen Arizona Wildland Firefighters Begins In Phoenix

Firefighters began a 125-mile procession to bring the bodies of 19 colleagues who died in a wildfire a week ago from Phoenix to the mountain community where they lived.

Nineteen hearses departed from the medical examiner's office in Phoenix, rolled past a collection of firefighters outside the Arizona statehouse complex and will pass through the community of Yarnell where the 19 died.

Firefighters and police officers held hands over their hearts or saluted as the motorcycle-led escort slowly drove by.

The crew had been working to build a protection line between the lightning-caused blaze and Yarnell when winds shifted suddenly. The fire hooked around the firefighters and cut off their access to a safety zone.
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