Christopher Mckenzie Granite Mountain Hotshots

In january 2013 chris started his third season as a lead crew member with the granite mountain hotshots out of the prescott city fire department in arizona.

Christopher mckenzie granite mountain hotshots.

From the serious accident investigation report released september 23 2013. Pranksters sometimes but dedicated and energetic professionals. The granite mountain hotshots were assigned to the yarnell hill fire in central arizona. Mackenzie then earned his way onto a blm helitack crew the mill creek hotshots based at highway 38 and bryant at the mentone yucaipa border and an engine crew at pinyon station 30 in riverside.

Chris mackenzie 30 grew up in hemet and sought to follow in his dad s footsteps. The so called hotshots were remembered as a rambunctious but respectful bunch. He was quickly promoted to saw boss and then to squad boss leading and teaching his firefighter brothers by example. Clayton joined the granite mountain hotshots in 2008 and took pride in the work he did.

Christopher mackenzie s camera captured the granite mountain hotshots as they built a human pyramid in front of a large juniper tree. His father was retired cal fire captain michael mackenzie. The testament of chris s life was not so much in the moments of his journey but more told in the manner in which he lived them. Chris mackenzie has been named as one of the granite mountain hotshotsout of prescott arizona who was killed on june 30 battling a terrifying blaze in yarnell arizona reports the la times.

A photo of christopher mackenzie his mustached face looking up at a fire in new mexico became one of the signature images used in news stories about the granite mountain hotshots it was taken by. On june 30 2013. Christopher mackenzie was one of five california natives among the granite mountain hotshot firefighters who died in the catastrophic yarnell hills fire in central arizona. Granite mountain hotshot christopher mackenzie shot these last two video clips shortly after 4 00 p m.

Days later the hotshot crew would be called to yarnell. Their boss prescott fire chief dan. July 1 2013 6 47 p m. Clayton was a light shining in the darkness.