Search
 
Commentary

How Should We Honor the Granite Mountain Hotshots?

The tragic loss of 19 firefighters in Arizona reminds us that in our battle against the elements, there are always casualties.

By Bill Coffin | Updated on July 01, 2013

When I attended Washington & Lee University, one of my classmates was a fellow from Oregon who paid his way through college by fighting fires. Each spring, he would get special leave to go home a week or two early and join the smoke chaser squads back home. The jobs of these specialized forest fire fighters is to rappel out of a helicopter with a chainsaw and cut a fire line in a forest that is burning. The idea is that if you get sufficiently ahead of the fire, you can create enough of a fuel-deprivation zone between the fire and the rest of the forest to contain the fire.

It sounded like dangerous work, and it was. When I asked my friend about his job, he mentioned that sometimes, you could be in a forest and see the flames racing across the treetops overhead. He mentioned that once he and his squaddies had to run full tilt out of a forest fire that was overtaking them, and that they nearly did not make it. I asked him what would have happened if they got caught, a little worried that I might not like the answer.

Want to continue reading?
Become a Free
PropertyCasualty360 Digital Reader.

INCLUDED IN A DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP:

  • All PropertyCasualty360.com news coverage, best practices, and in-depth analysis.
  • Educational webcasts, resources from industry leaders, and informative newsletters.
  • Other award-winning websites including BenefitsPRO.com and ThinkAdvisor.com.

Already have an account?

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Recommended Stories

PropertyCasualty360

Join PropertyCasualty360

Don’t miss crucial news and insights you need to make informed decisions for your P&C insurance business. Join PropertyCasualty360.com now!

  • Unlimited access to PropertyCasualty360.com - your roadmap to thriving in a disrupted environment
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including BenefitsPRO.com, ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com
  • Exclusive discounts on PropertyCasualty360, National Underwriter, Claims and ALM events

Already have an account? Sign In Now
Join PropertyCasualty360

Copyright © 2024 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.