She said she had been texting her husband throughout the day - with him telling her how much he loved and missed her, and how proud he was of their young children - until he abruptly stopped. "That's why I never worried for their safety because they were trained," she said. Juliann Ashcraft, widow of Andrew Ashcraft, who was one of the 19 firefighters who died while battling the Arizona wildfire on Sunday, spoke to "Today" about the final text messages she exchanged with her husband. Krista Carter's husband, Travis, was a father of two. CBS News obtained paperwork that shows Ashcraft did earn a full-time salary. Elite team: A photo from April 12, 2012 shows a squad leader with the Granite Mountain Hotshots training crew members on setting up emergency fire shelters outside of Prescott, Arizona, Last hope: The firefighters deployed the emergency shelters on Sunday but died (picture from April 2012), Emergency shelter: Firefighters dig into the earth and lay in the shelters, hoping the fire will pass over them, At work: Members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots are pictured working in New Mexico last year, Experts: Members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots work on a ridge line in Mogollon, New Mexico last June, Dangerous: Firefighters spray water on a restaurant to help protect it from flames in the Glenn Ilah area, Fast-moving: The fire started with a lightning strike on Friday and spread to 2,000 acres on Sunday, Aid: The Red Cross has set up a shelter at the Yavapai College in Prescott, Arizona. U.S. wildfire disasters date back more than two centuries and include tragedies like the 1949 Mann Gulch fire near Helena, Montana, that killed 13, or the Rattlesnake blaze four years later that claimed 15 firefighters in Southern California. Harry is an ex-Marine with friends who are firefighters, so he, too, was tracking the fire. We just lost 19 of the finest people you'll ever meet.'. The best result we found for your search is Juliann Ashcraft age 60s in Newport, WA. The comments below have not been moderated. Joe Woyjeck, Loved: The bodies of Wade Parker, 22, left, and 21-year-old Woyjeck, right, were retrieved on Monday, Heroes: A group photograph shows members of the Prescott Granite Mountain Hotshots, Andrew Ashcraft - 29Robert Caldwell - 23Travis Carter - 31Dustin Deford - 24Christopher MacKenzie - 30Eric Marsh - 43Grant McKee - 21Sean Misner - 26Scott Norris - 28Wade Parker - 22John Percin - 24Anthony Rose - 23Jesse Steed - 36Joe Thurston - 32Travis Turbyfill - 27William Warneke - 25Clayton Whitted - 28Kevin Woyjeck - 21Garret Zuppiger - 27, 'Their situational awareness and their training was at such a high level that it's unimaginable that this has even happened.'. john melendez tonight show salary She has anew baby brother, Owen. He often asks Roxanne, What do you think Billy would want?. They remove brush, trees and anything that might burn in the direction of homes and cities. Your Daddy Billy came to visit you? Harry asked. 'And we'll miss them. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. advancements, How to kick those late-night food cravings, 6 Amazon travel favorites for your next big getaway, TODAY walking group friends meet in person for first time. The devastation left by 'firestorm' that killed 19 Arizona Tears as 1,000 people gather at emotional memorial for 19 TOUGH BUT KIND: WHO ARE THE GRANITE MOUNTAIN HOTSHOTS? Mrs Ashcraft sobbed as she recounted the bravery of her beloved husband and his close unit of highly-trained 'hotshot' colleagues, who were overcome by the ferocious flames in Yarnell. Juliann Ashcraft and her husband Andrew were twenty-somethings with four young children when he died in the line of duty in Prescott, Arizona on June 30, 2013. At one point, Roxanne noticed that the Sawmill Fire had doubled in size overnight. Shortly after the tragedy, Inside Edition brought together eight of the widows. Andrew Ashcraft was a member of the Granite Mountain Hot Shots firefighters from Prescott, Arizona. 'But he let us know that he loved us and missed us. In the months after the fire, there would be an investigation. What's the next step for she and her children? In memory of 19 fire fighters, it said. "The city has fully complied with all of the laws and employment policies that direct survivor benefits," the statement said. They died together. We grieve for the department. Only six of the 19 firefighters are entitled to full-time benefits, the city claims. / CBS News. It is also the deadliest wildland blaze for firefighters in the U.S. for 80 years. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 'The best person I know. 'The best person I know. Yes, Roxanne told her. Everybody fighting the fire are Daddy Billys friends. Harry wants to raise Billie Grace the way her father would have. He listened intently as she recounted her dream. Because of the dangers of the job, he would always tell us that he loved us.'. Roxanne tried to prepare herself for the smell. Harry stayed close to her. First published on August 5, 2013 / 7:54 PM. "They lived together, they fought fires together, and they died together doing what they loved.". The elite team, Ashcraft said, were like a family. Now Roxanne was headed to the Sonoita-Elgin Fire District station, near the first fire she had confronted since then. A contagious smile, a heart of gold. They remove brush, trees and anything that might burn in the direction of homes and cities. she told the Today show as she struggled to hold back the tears. US firms waiting in the wings read to pump 'billions Parents' fury as schools STILL won't tell them if they are closed tomorrow as teacher strikes continue. The team, which was formed in 2002, is part of the Prescott Fire Department, the oldest in the state. 'It had to be a perfect storm in order for this to happen,' Prescott Fire Department spokesman Wade Ward told the Today show last month. ', Engulfed: 19 firefighters died as the wildfire spread near the Arizona town of Yarnell, Beneitone said athletic prowess was a must for the Hotshots. Abandoned blue sleeping bag, tents and several wooden shelters are found in woodland close to where police Runaway aristocrat and her boyfriend were spotted stocking up on supplies at food bank in Brighton without Taxpayers are left 31,000 out of pocket after council auctions off its Queen's Jubilee wicker corgi statues School places in chaos: Parents' desperation as one in three children miss out on preferred secondary - with Tragedy of the peroxide Tinkerbell: Ahead of a new documentary, ALISON BOSHOFF recalls how TV siren Paula Don't just stick to the Malbec! IE 11 is not supported. The tragedy is the deadliest single incident for firefighters since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, where as many as 340 crew members lost their lives, officials said. The comments below have not been moderated. The Red Cross has opened two shelters in the area - at Yavapai College in Prescott and at the Wickenburg High School gym. If State Highway 83 had been open, it would have taken an hour and a half or so. Ashcraft did not think it would be this much of an issue. His wife says he always thought of others before himself. 'One of the last fail safe methods that a firefighter can do under those conditions is literally to dig as much as they can down and cover themselves with a protective - kinda looks like a foil type - fire-resistant material - with the desire, the hope at least, is that the fire will burn over the top of them and they can survive it,' Fraijo said. Published: 14:36, 6 August 2013 | Updated: 22:49, 6 August 2013. . I feel like we need to do something for these guys, she said. ', Tragic: Chris Mackenzie (right) also died in the inferno on June 30. Fire shelters fail to protect elite fire crew from Ariz. blazeShock over loss of 19 Ariz. firefighters in wildfireLightning sparked deadly Arizona fireA look at deadly U.S. fire crew incidents, CBS News' Carter Evans, who spoke with Juliann Ashcraft, reported on "CBS This Morning": "When I spoke with Juliannshe had many questions. Click here to share your story. Taking Vitamin D each day could cut your chances of getting dementia, study claims. On Tuesday, Juliann Ashcraft, the widow of slain Ariz. firefighter Andrew Ashcraft, described the final text messages that she shared with her husband as he battled the Yarnell Hill Fire. You could pretty much see, from young freshman all the way, he was going to be physically active. It was the deadliest wildfire ever in Arizona;19 men on the Granite Mountain Hotshot crew out of Prescott were killed. All 19 hotshot families will receive worker's compensation and a one-time federal payment of $328,000. It still did not look as catastrophic as it turned out to be, but it was interesting to have that perspective, to know what life was like for him on the fire lines and know what he risked day in and day out.. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. Juliann Ashcraft was aware that her husband, Andrew, had a dangerous job. 'And we'll miss them. The 4-1 vote came at the same time that an army of . Roxanne told them about the non-profit group. The heartbroken wife of Andrew Ashcraft, a father-of-four who was killed by the Arizona wildfire with 18 of his firefighting comrades on Sunday, has revealed their last conversation - and her fears when he never responded to her messages. Older Americans increasingly struggling to save for retirement. They are happy. August 5, 2013 / 7:54 PM Nineteen firefighters were killed, Proud: Kevin Woyjeck, right, is pictured with his father, Los Angeles County Fire Capt. At times, the pain is overwhelming for the women and they say their hotshot firefighters were larger than life now they will have a fitting tribute on the big screen. She is Roxanne Preston now, having married a man named Harry Preston last summer. Select this result to view Juliann Ashcraft's phone number, address, and more. I saw that it kept growing, Roxanne said. But being the wife of a firefighter is like becoming part of a family. They focus on safety for wildland firefighters, lobbying for policy changes and independent investigations. Juliann Ashcraft's husband, Andrew, was one of 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots firefighters who lost their lives when a fire they were battling suddenly changed direction and engulfed them. You gotta be very physically fit, and you gotta like it, gotta like the hard work.'. She told the Today show how, apart from his family, fighting fires with the Granite Mountain Hotshots was his life. "They died heroes," she said, crying and wiping tears away from her eyes. CBS News has seen paperwork showing Mr Ashcraft did infact earn a full-time salary as a firefighter for the city of Prescott. Roxanne still tells Billie Grace stories about her father, and Billie Grace tells them to Harry. They got on the road, leaving baby Owen at home with a sitter. She breathedin and waited for the panic. 'He was the most amazing man,' she said. Juliann Ashcraft said: "It was out of the ordinary for him, because he said 'this is getting wild' and 'Peoples Valley an Yarnell are looking to burn.' Yet there she stood, her loss all too real. Prescott, which is more than 30 miles northeast of Yarnell, is one of the only cities in the United States that has a hot shot fire crew, Fraijo said. I wish for the world could know that they lost this army of honorable men, she said.On the day of the fire, the father of four texted how much he loved his family and shared a photo of the wildfire as the hotshots moved into harms way. Roxanne would take her daughter to Billys grave with flowers and his dog. She and Billy used to go to nearby Patagonia often, to hike and fish, taking State Highway 83. That doesnt change, no matter what happens. Juliann Ashcraft always knew her husband had a dangerous job fighting wildfires, but he was one of the elite -- a Granite Mountain Hotshot. Family photographs reveal a picture perfect family as Juliann and Andrew are seen grinning and kissing, as well as laughing along with their four young children. 1. Michael MacKenzie, who was once the captain of Moreno Valley, California, said his son Chris died in the flames. Watch Firefighters Rescue 2 Baby Deer From Wildfire: Smoky Bear Would Be Proud. Final moments: Mrs Ashcraft shared the final image Andrew Ashcraft texted her before the 19 firefighters were killed by the flames, An honorary flagpole is shown at the site where the 19 firefighters died, The devastation has been described as a 'moonscape' after an inferno so intense that only the metal part of one chain saw was found, 'It still did not look as catastrophic as it turned out to be,' she said. They made their way there on back roads. While her husband was on a break during the early stages of battling a massive fire on Sunday, Ashcraft said she texted pictures of their kids swimming. juliann ashcraft new husband; By . she told the Today show early last month as she struggled to hold back the tears. For more, click here or follow on Facebook. 6 Amazon travel essentials for your next getaway, starting at $12, Juliann Ashcrafts husband, Andrew, was one of the 19 firefighters killed in Arizona on Sunday. In fact, he was one of 19 wildland firefighters who died in the line of duty that day, with just one member of the crew surviving. We just lost 19 of the finest people you'll ever meet.'. They were heroes in our home, they were heroes in our community," she said. Helicopters had been unable to reach the highly-trained men as they fought the flames in Yarnell and they could not be saved by their emergency shelters - tent-like structures meant to shield them from flames and heat. ', In love: Juliann, right, is pictured with Andrew Ashcraft, left, in happier times, Heartbreaking: Not only was Juliann Ashcraft, pictured, devastated to lose her husband, she is now facing raising their four children without the benefits she is entitled to. 6 Amazon travel essentials for your next getaway, starting at $12. Mr Ashcraft also sent his wife a picture of their view of the smoke and flames from his team's lunch spot on Sunday, and Juliann said that she was not particularly concerned when she saw it. EXCLUSIVE: Lanzarote sticks to its guns and insists it WILL limit tourists and move away from relying on Jeremy Clarkson is axed as Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? My Daddy Billy? Billie Grace asked. She told the Today show how, apart from his family, fighting fires with the Granite Mountain Hotshots was his life. She was named Billie Grace, for her father. febr 24, 2023. in gif bon matin humour. But the city is refusing to pay Mrs Ashcraft her husband's lifetime salary and health benefits, which together are worth millions, because it insists he was among 13 of the squad who were seasonal employees rather than full-timers. They live in that same house, built by her community, an American flag still flying out front, a play fort in the backyard now. We grieve for the city,' he said at a news conference on June 30. Roxanne recognized the hotshot crews called into help, including Blue Ridge from Happy Jack. She said she learned of her husband's death while watching the news with their four children. Nineteen shelters were deployed and some of the firefighters were found inside them, Mike Reichling from the Arizona State Forestry Division told the Arizona Republic. He responded that he wished for that too. Just days after the men's deaths, Mrs Ashcraft revealed the last conversation she had with her husband - and her fears when he never responded to her text messages. Ariz. firefighters wife: They were heroes, battling the out-of-control wildfire Sunday. Stuart Johnson, Deseret News. Only The Brave opens in theaters nationwide on October 20. She felt like she wanted to do something to help. They were invincible. So Roxanne still follows the progress of fires online, like she used to when Billy was on the job. They pay to replace or update equipment. Enter your email to receive updates on our LDS Living content, 2022 LDS Living A Division of Deseret Book Company. They died together - doing what they loved.'. Join Us at 4:30 (EST) on December 4, 2020 Online for the . With their deaths, the department lost 20 per cent of its members. Do you or a loved one work for a Hotshot crew? Juliann Ashcraft said she learned that her husband, Andrew, 29, was among the dead by watching the news with her four children. Dry grass near the communities of Yarnell and Glen Isla fed the fast-moving blaze. The crew killed in the blaze had been working on other wildfires in recent weeks in New Mexico and Arizona, Fraijo said. Were like a family us at 4:30 ( EST ) on December 4, 2020 for. With their four children on Facebook out-of-control wildfire Sunday be Proud stood, her loss all too real was... Travel essentials for your search is Juliann Ashcraft age 60s in Newport, WA when... 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