10 years after tragedy, lone survivor speaks at Granite Mountain Hotshots tribute center

PRESCOTT — The lone surviving Granite Mountain Hotshot, Brendan McDonough, spoke during the fifth anniversary party for the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew Learning and Tribute Center on Thursday, the day before the 10th anniversary of the loss of his 19 crewmates who died while battling the 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire.

"It's a relief to know that my brothers will never be forgotten by this community, by those who loved them, by those who never had the opportunity to meet them but who choose to live like them," McDonough said.

The center, a nonprofit located in Prescott's Gateway Mall, was created by community members to tell the story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, preserve and display artifacts and memorabilia while also educating visitors about wildland fires, firefighting and prevention.

"This is world-class, people, we should be proud of this" Prescott Fire Chief Holger Durre said in reference to the center. "Out of this significant tragedy, what we have here is a community treasure."

Hundreds of sun-bleached T-shirts and other mementos from fire departments around the world line the walls of the center, carefully preserved from the memorial fence that sprung up outside the crew's fire station in the immediate wake of the tragedy.

The center features a memorial for each of the fallen Granite Mountain Hotshots, highlighting their lives along with their importance to the fire department and the Prescott community as a whole.

In addition to memorializing those who were lost, a significant aspect of the center is rooted in education, informing the public about the intricacies and challenges of wildland firefighting.

McDonough said that throughout this month leading up to the anniversary, he has tried to focus on celebrating the brothers he lost and the way they lived.

"They lived to be in service to their community. They lived to be fathers, husbands, sons, brothers and all those things," he said. "They lived to be selfless and they lived to love others. We can't make sacrifices like they made without love and compassion."

McDonough, Durre and Prescott mayor Phil Goode all implored the community to continue supporting the center, which is operated entirely by volunteers. If you are interested in learning more, donating or getting involved, visit the center's website at gmihc19.org.

"It has an impact on generations to come," McDonough said of the center. It doesn't just have "an impact on my brothers' legacy but how we're trying to build men and women that are of service to our country that are willing to make a great sacrifice."

Reach the reporter at LLatch@gannett.com.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Granite Mountain Hotshots tribute center in Arizona marks 5th anniversary