Yarnell Fire wrongful death lawsuit going to mediation
By Craig Knapp on January 17, 2015

On June 28, 2013, a wildfire ignited by lightning hit Yarnell, Arizona. It destroyed 127 homes, burned 13 square miles, and claimed the lives of 19 brave, young firefighters – the Granite Mountain Hotshots. It was the deadliest wildfire ever in Arizona and the highest firefighter death toll in the U.S. since the September 11 attacks, leaving one question unanswered: what went wrong? That’s exactly what the families of the hotshots want to know.

AZCentral.com reported last night that 15 family members of hotshots have sued the Division of Forestry based on claims of negligence. These claims are supported by an investigation by Arizona’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) that concluded “Forestry officials committed serious and willful safety violations.” These violations caused 127 families to lose their home, they caused 19 lives to end too soon, and they are the reason we at Knapp and Roberts are fighting for the families that are demanding change.

We represent three hotshot families who lost a loved one and about 100 Yarnell-area residents who lost their home in the fire.

For the three hotshot families, we have asked that litigation be put on hold in an effort to negotiate a settlement with the Arizona Division of Forestry. Our clients’ goal throughout this process is to get answers and demand change. They know what it’s like to lose a loved one in a tragedy that could’ve been prevented, and they don’t want it to happen to anyone else. They want the state to take responsibility for what happened and we are willing to do whatever it takes to work toward a resolution.