MISSION

From Tragedy to Recovery the Tenth Annual Remembrance Event

Saturday June 10, 2023
Yarnell Memorial Run
Assembly of God Church – 17125 Fountainhill Lane, Yarnell
Opening ceremony at 6:30 am

5k, 10k and 19k Race Categories
Register at Startlineracing.com
Cheer the runners as they pass your homes!

Commemorative Exhibit opens  –  From Tragedy to Recovery: A Commemorative Exhibit of the 10th Anniversary of the Yarnell Hill Fire 

Yarnell  Public Library – 22278 State Route 89  
June 10 – July 8     9 am – 4 pm Mon.  – Fri.      9 am – 2 pm Saturdays
An exhibit of paintings, photographs, mementoes salvaged from the fire, poetry, and written memories.
OPENING RECEPTION:  11:00 am  Sat. June 10
VISITORS:  Get a personal, intimate look at the impact of the Fire on community members who experienced the tragedy and /or the recovery.
CONTRIBUTORS:   Pick up applications from the Library; bring your items June 5-7 to the library. Space limitations will determine how many items from each individual can be used. Your entries MUST be accompanied by a waiver, and all items will be available for collecting on July 10.  

Friday, June 30, 2023
10th Anniversary Remembrance Event
Yarnell Hill Fire Memorial Park – 22556 State Route 89
3:45 – 4:45 pm
The program will include family members, poetry, music, firefighters who were in the thick of the Fire and residents who were key players in the Recovery process over the past 10 years.  This year's Remembrance event will also include a fly-over by F15 jets at approximately 4:40 pm.  Attendees and residents should anticipate the loud noise to honor the loss of the Hotshots. 

Shade canopies and water will be provided; please bring a chair ( bug spray is recommended).  Parking is available in the empty lot across Shrine Road from the Park.  

LIGHT THE NIGHT:  9 – 10 PM

An adaptation of the Firefighters Light the Night campaign, we encourage residents, businesses, churches and organizations to TURN ON YOUR PORCH (or front) LIGHTS from 9-10 pm.  Next year, the national Firefighters Memorial Wkend is May 4-5. 

The Yarnell Hill Recovery Group formed in order to coordinate recovery efforts after the Yarnell Hill Fire of June 2013.   Its mission was to identify the unmet needs of the residents and businesses in the Yarnell Hill Fire area and to identify ways to meet those needs.

The finest memorial we can build in memory of the Granite Mountain Hotshots and to the homes and memories lost is to develop Yarnell into a thriving, economically sustainable community.  The Yarnell Fire Memorial Park is part of that vision. 

Five years later, by July of 2018, most of the funds had been disbursed to residents who lost their homes and local infrastructure. The remaining funds were designated for the Memorial Park which was dedicated on June 30, 2021.

The YHRG changed its focus. To honor the memory of the Granite Mountain Hotshots and the homes and memories lost, we will continue our efforts to develop Yarnell and the area into a thriving, economically sustainable community.  Under the DBA Yarnell Area Resource Group (YARG) its mission is now “Collaborating for sustainable communities in the Weaver Mountains.”   This will include:  

  • maintaining the park.
  • offering a 501c3 umbrella for organizations and projects that warrant such provision and which align with the mission.
  • retaining and expanding relationships with individuals and organizations in the Weaver Mountains area and Yavapai County, and State Wide Organizations.
  • collaborating to organize events, offer suggestions and resources based on our experience that can benefit other local organizations.

Just a couple of pictures from the Easter Sunrise Service at the Park

As part of our effort in offering the 501c3 umbrella for organizations in the area we were able to obtain a $10,000 grant for Walden Meadows Community Co-op (the water company for Wilhoit).  Pictured here are Frances Lechner and Judy Garner presenting the check to Cal Lewis, treasurer and Terry Williams, vice president of WMCC.

T-SHIRTS, HOODIES, & PATCHES

Visitors and neighbors may now order items that help to sustain the Park and the Yarnell Area Resource Group.   Click on the button below for information or order.

YARNELL SOUTHERN  ENTRANCE SIGN

 Businesses, organizations and individuals may rent space  (REALLY reasonable!) on the large sign on the entrance to Yarnell at the top of the hill.  Click on the sign below or “Community Sign” in the footer.

CLICK ON SIGN ABOVE OR COMMUNITY SIGN IN THE FOOTER TO SEE THE NEW FEATURE AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS FROM YARNELL AREA RESOURCE GROUP AND YARNELL-PEEPLES VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Ninth Annual Remembrance Event took place at the Park on June 30, 2022.

Paul Jones started the program with an Invocation.  Chuck Tidey followed with stories of the park construction.  Frances Lechner gave a brief view of the first year of operations of the park.  Nina Bourbeau sang a moving rendition of “Blazing Honor”.

Arlon Rice from Yarnell Fire District and Shawn Bomar from Peeples Valley Fire District brought the audience up to date on the current efforts of their fire districts.  Mark Weise, Director of Operations, AZ State Parks and Trails commented on the beauty of the park.  Maria Adams followed with a lovely presentation of “Forever Young”.

Lew and Marcie Theokas read the names of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, with Bob Brandon ringing the bell as a tribute to each name read.  A brief period of silence was observed as a tribute to the hotshots. Lew and Marcie had done an interview with the television crews before the event and those crews kept the cameras rolling during the entire program.  

The program was ended by Linda Ma with an invitation for all to visit together under the cottonwoods at Lohrwood.  We hope all who attended enjoyed the Ninth Annual Remembrance Event.  

Painting by Ray Antolik. Click to enlarge.  He is making the prints affordable for us to raise money for the Yarnell Hill Fire Memorial Park. They can be purchased at the Yarnell Emporium,  928-427-9593. 

Yarnell Area Resource Group wishes to thank the many people and companies who have selflessly donated time effort and money to make the park happen.  Click here to see a list of those for whom we will forever be grateful.   

Wildland Firefighter©
by Bob Brandon

Bob Brandon, a self-taught artist, was on the frontline of fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire. Bob and his crew were creating a firebreak in the Shrine Road area. A sudden wind shift forced them to abandon their work. The wind shift changed to course of the fire – and the course of many lives.  
Prints of “Wildland
Firefighter” are
available.

The following buttons will connect you to You Tube videos of the 2021 memorial service and park dedication.  Click on the button you wish to watch.  You will leave this website to view the video.  When you are done watching a video press the return button at the top of your screen to return to this website and select another.

In May 2020, Arizona State Parks and Trails made an award to the Yarnell Hill Recovery Group dba Yarnell Area Resource Group.  That funding will enabled the Yarnell Hill Fire Memorial Park to be completed by June 30, 2021.  We are grateful to ASPT for their support and encouragement in the development of our Park.  Even more, we appreciate their commitment to help our community. 

The shuttle service to the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park is run by the Yarnell Fire District, providing a critical income stream for the department.  The State Park is staffed by a Yarnell resident, and shuttle passengers have the opportunity to visit local shops and restaurants, all of which benefit the local economy.

Pictures of other bricks are on the Memorial Park page.

 
MORE PICTURES OF THE PARK PROGRESS & UNVEILING ARE ON THE MEMORIAL PARK PAGE AS WELL AS THE APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL USE/EVENTS