19 Firefighters Dead

[username]

These guys died because the fire slowed over the top of them from what I heard, wasn't anything they could have done. Meanwhile, fire raises the temperature several hundred degrees and fills it with acrid smoke. One or two breaths instantly sears the lungs and kills you. They likely didn't have much time to react before they were dead, let alone reflect on how bad it was gonna hurt etc. Small consolation I know...

Thanks. That's why I wanted to know if they would have suffocated or something.

I read that hotshot #20 was serving as their lookout. He says he called and told them that the fire had changed direction and that he was moving out because of the imminent danger. He asked them if they needed anything and left. The paper said he followed protocol and the team was supposed to have established a safe zone and means of exit neither of which were foolproof (obviously). Sad.