Brendan McDonough, 21, was serving as lookout and relaying key information to his team when the wildfire suddenly changed direction 19 firefighters confirmed died Arizona town of Yarnell Fire. Sun-bleached T-shirts from fire units across the nation, helmets, wilting flowers, rain-rippled handwritten notes, photos, and 19 sets of everything from shovels to crosses, bandanas and flags drape the fencing for two blocks. Do they think Im doing a good job? McDonough called his wife and talked about killing himself and said he wanted to say goodbye to the children. Do you remember seeing the thunderstorm moving in with the strong winds, pushing the fire toward the crew? McDonough, who looks and sounds like a distant Kennedy relative, was a sports buff as a boy. It took hard work to get where he is, but his faith has made it possible to free him from the shame and guilt that was holding him prisoner. No more firefighting. She knows. In talking with physically and mentally scarred firefighters and their families, he says, he realized that he needed to take care of himself and get some professional help. She let him and he visited with the children, did not mention harming himself, then left. If youre anything like me, you might think you know what your boss is thinking when he or she talks to you. The true story behind the events that inspired the major motion picture Only the Brave. All wildfires can become dangerous. Actor Neal McDonough and his wife Ruve arrive at "The Losers" Premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on April 20, 2010 in Hollywood, California. He said he didnt talk to Willis and doesnt remember him talking to others on the crew. Excellent article and interview Mr. Gabbert. Things changed very rapidly and fast," he said. Almost two hours after it was reported at 4:47 p.m. that the Hotshots had deployed protective personal shelters, an Arizona state paramedic hiked up to the site of torched chaparral and confirmed the worst. The Associated Press contributed to this report. He encourages all of you to make these festivals a part of your calendar during the summer and enjoy all Montana has to offer. On August 7, 2019, McDonough was loaned to USL Championship side Charlotte Independence for the remainder of the season. Mon, Feb 27, 2023 . He took a job with the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides financial and other assistance to injured wildland firefighters or their families in the case of a line-of-duty death. Brendan McDonough, 40, according to the warrant for his arrest, was charged after assaulting his wife and one of their children, blitzing his wife over several days with threatening and intimidating text messages and threatening to kill his wife and himself. He played three years for Charlotte Catholic High School, while spending his junior year in Germany training with both FT Braunschweig and Eintracht Braunschweig. After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire. I felt like a failure because I couldnt support my daughter, because no one wanted to hire a felon. Chief Willis was working on the fire helping protect structures. That. The Yarnell Hill Fire lone survivor: Interview with Brendan McDonough 1579 West Gurley St Their superintendent, Eric Marsh, was in a desperate . Yeah, way off in the distance I could see it coming in. Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. But at first, this one on a boulder-strewn hillside at 5,000 feet outside the small town of Yarnell, Ariz. seemed nothing out of the ordinary to the team of dogged firefighters dispatched in their white fire buggies that fateful day from nearby Prescott. PHOTOS: Brendan 'Donut' McDonough Watched the Roaring Fire Turn on His Friends Every one of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, except for McDonough, was burned alive sometime after 4:30 p.m. on June 30, when the Yarnell Hill Fire suddenly whipped 180 degrees around and cut off their escape route from a scrub brush meadow to a nearby ranch. Avon Man Arrested For Threatening, Assault, Held On $700K Bond Celebrating 60 Years of PHOS-CHEK: Honoring George Roby, a Hero of Fire Safety. Covered in soot over his bright yellow protective clothing and heavy boots as darkness fell on June 30, waves of guilt for being the only Hotshot spared death was a gut punch made all the more painful by the chirping phones behind him in the buggy. production accountant Taylor Nikonovich . Brendan McDonough would serve as lookout. There have been a lot of fingers pointed I just wanted to make sure that I was standing up for my brothers. View the map. Im really rooted here; I love it here., HIRED ON WITH THE GRANITE MOUNTAIN HOTSHOT CREW, McDonough was not a first-round pick when he was hired on with the crew. McDonough was scheduled to provide sworn testimony during a deposition on May 28, 2015 in Phoenix, but he said it was canceled by the State of Arizona. He enlisted in the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a crew of elite hotshot firefighters based in Prescott, Arizona. Meet the Sole Surviving Arizona Firefighter - Newser Brendan McDonough was a Fire Explorer at the age of 14 and ten years later was in his third season with the Granite Mountain Hotshots when the unthinkable happened. What led to the deaths of the experienced team of firefighters remains under official investigation by Arizona, whose deputy state forester Jerry Payne caused an uproar last week by publicly blaming the crew's slain leader Eric Marsh for violating firefighting rules. I lost my family.. Once inside, McDonough accused his wife of not letting him see the kids and of trying to break up the family. [7][8], McDonough was released by Vancouver at the end of the 2019 season. "Everything seemed normal, not threatening. Privacy Policy. Skilled in Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Financial Modeling . PRESCOTT, Ariz. From his lookout position on a scrubby hillside, Brendan McDonough tracked the fast-changing elements of the Yarnell Hill Fire late Sunday: the weather, the landscape, the. I'm kind of numb at that point. Hes collaborating with best-selling author Stephan Talty, author of A Captains Duty, about Richard Phillips, captain of the MV Maersk Alabama that was captured by Somali pirates and later rescued by Navy SEALs. We have estimated assistant: Mr. Teller Kerry Newberry . McDonough is one of five candidates seeking the chief executive position in the 2020 election. That was the biggest thing. I feel like just now within the last six months I, ve been able to build relationships with some of the families outside of that, we talk about my daughter, what they are up to, what, s going on with their lives, grandkids. "It's not something you wanna hear," McDonough said. Wasn't a bad decision.". I just have the title of Yarnell Hill Lone Survivor. Activity I had a. I would never if my brothers did make mistakes, I would never keep that a secret to put in a book. . It was a class act. Then, on June 30, 2013, while McDonoughDonut as hed been dubbed by his crewserved as lookout, they confronted a freak, 3,000-degree inferno in nearby Yarnell, Arizona. But the allure of cameras from the early 2000s for Gen-Zers reflects a broader search for meaning. New Bill Could Boost Benefits for Some Arizona Hotshot Families. Prior to his appointment Brendan McDonagh was Director Finance, Technology & Risk with the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA). https://www.holdfastrecovery.com Its really nice to be able to have that.. Brendan R. McDonough is a Butte native and graduated from Butte Central High School and Montana Tech with a degree in Business Informational Technology. Through a nonprofit organization 22KILL, he was recognized for his service and received the key to the city of Fort Worth, Texas. When we heard guys were deploying I remember him being a leader and doing the job he needed to do. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. Courtesy Terry McDonough His wife, Lynette, marveled over the bond McDonough has . "That's when the superintendent and our captain asked me to be the lookout," he explained. He likes Prescott, he says, but acknowledges that its tough for him to live there. McDonough, in a different location, escaped uninjured after getting a ride out of the area in autility task vehicle (UTV) driven by a firefighter from another hotshot crew. Brendan McDonough - Wikipedia It took me a while to realize that the depression was not going away and was getting worse., He says the families of those killed in the fire are supportive and treat him like family, but he says he knows it sometimes hurts them to be around him. "We want to restore what we had. The people that are obsessed with it have made up their minds and no additional arguing is going to change what they think. Brendan has done much to provide support for both veterans and first responders, as they are close to his heart. Outside, a chain link fence has become a makeshift memorial adorned with welcome but painful reminders for the young man. Arizona Gov. Granite Mountain by Brendan McDonough | Hachette Books I remember I was just sitting there in shock., McDonough was scheduled to provide sworn testimony during a deposition on May 28, 2015 in Phoenix, but he said it was canceled by the State of Arizona. This episode focuses on the aftermath of the June 30th, 2013 Yarnell wildfire in which 19 of his fellow Hotshot brothers died in the line of duty. The judge agreed with the prosecutor and sharply increased McDonoughs bail and issued protective orders that require he stay 2,500 feet away from his wifes home and have no contact with her, her mother or the children. Pushed by strong winds created by a passing thunderstorm, the fire burned over the crew, killing them all, even though they sought protection inside their emergency fire shelters. McDonough walked about half of it. At his wife Kari's insistence, McDonough briefly gave up the bike after a traffic . Published on October 21, 2017 11:20 AM. Thats what the brotherhood is really about., That is what I lost that day, he adds. t understand how much face-to-face conversation Steed and Marsh engaged in that afternoon. or viewing does not constitute, a doctor-patient relationship. That. Brendan McDonough, speaking here in an exclusive interview with ABC News, was the only member of his 20-man Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot firefighting crew to survive the Yarnell Hill Fire in late June 2013. You may be able to find another website where this is encouraged, but its not the vision I have for Wildfire Today. Steed told him he was listening to it and asked McDonough if hed heard it. We all could see it. Thats what really pushed me to get help. As he writes, he remembers stories from his hotshot days, and he says it illuminates for him what is still painful that he can address in counseling. Families of the Fallen Granite Mountain Hotshots Are Not Getting the PHOTOS: Brendan 'Donut' McDonough Watched the Roaring Fire Turn on His Friends. To learn more about organizations helping the families of the 19 fallen firefighters, visit Prescott Firefighters Charities and The Wildland Firefighter Foundation. 1579 West Gurley St The day before, he had been sent home sick by, Jesse Steed, Captain and second in command, of the crew. Reporting from Phoenix Brendan McDonough survived one of the deadliest wildfires in U.S. history, an inferno near Yarnell, Ariz., that killed 19 of his fellow Granite Mountain Hotshots on. A "unique and bracing" (Booklist) first-person account by the sole survivor of Arizona's disastrous 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire, which took the lives of 19 "hotshots" firefighters trained specifically to battle wildfires.Brendan McDonough was on the verge of becoming a hopeless, inveterate heroin . CBS News obtained paperwork that shows Ashcraft did earn a full-time salary. Not just a hotshot crew or nineteen fire brothers. Thanks. Brendan McDonough, Yarnell Hill Fire survivor, speaks at the memorial service for the 19 firefighters that died on the fire. After the dust settles and it opens again, hopefully it will be in a more productive, meaningful, and positive atmosphere. Around 4:00 in the afternoon, however, everything changed. McDonougth does say he suffers from serious mental health issues, Velodota said. The wife told him to say goodbye to the kids and to leave, but he kept arguing, according to the warrant. This video shares the incredible journey of Brendan McDonough. My daughter comes up to me, saying, Hey Daddy. This image, taken by firefighter Andrew Ashcraft and sent to his wife, shows the doomed crew going in. 2023 University of Montana. Map & Directions [+]. I wanted to talk to you because I feel the community thinks I sold out. Brendan McDonough identified: Lone survivor of Arizona firefighting It was a day he will never forget. As Tarr got closer to the site he reported, "I could hear voices coming from the area of the shelters," but after yelling into the smoke soon came upon charred black human remains. The blond, rail-thin veteran of three fire seasons led ABC News through the crew's station, a place once a center of activity in fire season but now sorrowfully quiet and filled with U.S. flags signed by fire squads, commemorative wood carvings, postcards and letters of gratitude from many whose homes were saved by the Hotshots, as well as children's playful drawings saying "thank you." He had never talked to me face to face, and Chief Willis did another article saying that, McDonough explains that the post-fire trauma, the investigations, and multiple lawsuits were a huge strain on him, and he certainly didn, everyone was trying to blame them and I just wanted people to know that these guys were amazing men and they got caught in a really bad situation. Im sharing the stories and the great memories I have of them, and Im telling my stories about Yarnell what I saw, how I felt, and what I think happened., He says the book also addresses his counseling. I wanted to make sure I wasn. He assured Steed that he had. Hang in there Brendon. He is Chairman of PEAL Capital Group Limited. The incident occurred in March 2022, but gained attention on Reddit in February 2023. Brendan McDonough Vicky Shen Henry Richard Pace University, 2025 Jane Richard Thayer Academy, 2024 Eamon Baker Catholic Memorial High School, 2022 Mairead Baker Harvard University, 2024 Jack Burke BC High, 2022 Nolan Cleary BC High, 2022 Liley Damatin Worcester State University, 2024 Peter Datish University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 2025 McDonough is not currently working at a conventional job; he is working on a book, which he says has been therapeutic for him. At 4:47, it was reported over the radio that McDonough's crewmates had been forced to deploy their individual fire shelters -- a last ditch step. With the support of his friends and family members and the Prescott community,Brendan McDonough now has created purpose from his pain by establishing Holdfast Recovery. "That's not going to remember my brothers the right way," McDonough said. "They made me the man, and father I am today. Brendan McDonough (@donut_928) Instagram photos and videos In the spring of 2015 he was invited to participate in a portion of a relay that began in New York City and ended in Dallas, Texas, organized by Carry the Load. McDonough, who describes himself as a knuckle dragger, is actually writing parts of the book with Talty. I lost my family. When she went back to work, he began to send text messages, including one in which he threatened to kill her and her mother and take the children, according to the warrant. Despite the crews skepticism, and thanks in large part to Marshs firm but loving encouragement, McDonough unlocked a latent drive and dedication, going on to successfully battlesa number ofblazes and he eventually wins the confidence of the men he came to call his brothers. knuckle dragger, is actually writing parts of the book with Talty. They have also lived in Saint Cloud, FL and Ringgold, GA. Brendan is related to Richard J McDonough and Kathleen Ellen McDonough as well as 1 additional person. The job lasted about a year. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. He says the publisher promised a bonus if the book sells a lot of copies, and McDonough says hell donate some of that to a non-profit organization. We hope that any additional comments, as we said before, will be in a more productive, meaningful, and positive atmosphere. One key characterand the only firefighter to survive because he was posted some distance away on watch dutyis Brendan McDonough. The couples youngest son then stepped between them and began swinging a toy at his father and telling him to leave. "Whoever didn't bring their phone, I could hear phones ringing, knowing that it was their wives, their family," McDonough recounted in an exclusive interview with ABC News to air on "Good Morning America" today. The next day on the fire near Yarnell, Steed, as the acting Superintendent may have thought that McDonough was not quite 100 percent recovered when he assigned him to serve as a lookout for the crew. [4] He was officially added to the club's roster on March 6, 2019, signing an MLS contract for 2019 with options through to 2022. I usually Clarion Events Fire & Rescue Group provides Fire and EMS leadership the critical training and educational information they need to do their job as effectively and safely as possible. ABC News' Sabina Ghebremedhin contributed to this report. Through our industry-leading publications, digital media and events, we cover the latest developments, innovations, and standards in apparatus and equipment, clinical breakthroughs, and training for Fire & EMS personnel. He likes Prescott, he says, but acknowledges that it. Powered by. What is the lone surviving firefighter from Yarnell Hill fire doing to And then came very bad news that smoke-choked afternoon. . Jan Brewer and other state officials quickly repudiated Payne, who isn't involved in the probe, for offering his opinions before all the facts are in. Let's Talk About It // Week 3 - Addiction // Special Guest Brendan Terry McDonough - Biography - IMDb Company Wine/Dine - regardless of cost to taxpayers and troops. s about time for you to get out of there. staying in one spot observing the fire, taking weather observations, and updating the rest of the crew on the status of the fire and where it was in relation to their location. The surviving member of an elite Arizona firefighting crew that was overrun by flames says he went numb after learning the 19 men he considered his brothers were dead, and he wonders why he alone was spared what he calls a "horrible, freak accident.". So they kind of relayed to me, 'Hey, Donut, we got eyes on it,'" McDonough remembers his captain telling him. Eric Marsh, superintendent of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, at one point told a fire manager on the radio that the 19 men were deploying their emergency shelters. Brendan McDonoughs income source is mostly from being a successful . No more firefighting. And I guess the State didnt think it was important enough to hear my opinion again. Hey, its about time for you to get out of there, said Steed over the radio. I lost nineteen amazing men that were my structure, he says. Brendan McDonough is the lone survivor of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. Their superintendent, Eric Marsh, was in a desperate crunch after four . I was trying to heal as a person and help others heal, and share my stories, and kind of work with the fundraisers. Great article Bill thank you! But I remember hearing that. McDonough says he was collecting weather observations from his lookout post when the weather warning came over the radio. Superintendent Eric Marsh had been assigned as Division Supervisor that day, in charge of the part of the fire that included the Granite Mountain crew, temporarily supervised by Steed. Select this result to view Brendan McDonough's phone number, address, and more. Ronald P. Clark, Voted As the Most Corrupt General Officer in The The groups vision is to restore the true meaning of Memorial Day by connecting Americans to the sacrifices of our military, law enforcement, firefighters and rescue personnel. During the 27-day event volunteers walked segments of the route. I sunk. And he is determined not to let down the families of the Nineteen, either. "No, I never question the decisions they've made," he said, seated in the ready room beneath crossed axes affixed to one wall. Certainly one or more people who were on the fire know, but until they come forward we may never have every answer. The Story That "Only the Brave" Leaves Out | The New Yorker It was just a horrible, freak accident.". He was the beloved husband of Donna (Fratus) McDonough. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. He did hear, though, a discussion about Marsh going on ahead toward the ranch to make sure the route was good, and Marsh later told Steed they should make their way down there. Mount Tamalpais Prescribed Fires Delayed Amid Tricky Factors, Watchdogs: Forest Service Erred Siting Radio Repeater in MT Wilderness Study Area. THANKS Bill, and best of luck this time. Career. Im still going to be making truck payments, Im still going to be struggling to pay for my medical insurance. McDonough was released by Vancouver at the end of the 2019 season. Brendan has been getting lots of support from loved ones and friends and even strangers reaching out to him. The barrage of text messages contain similarly threatening language, according to the warrant. Posted at 9:32 AM, Feb 06, 2014 . At 26 years old, Brendan McDonough height The interview with Brendan McDonough is being opened again for comments after the strategic pause and a cleaning up of the thread. Do you think there might be an opportunity for you to follow up with Brendan if you feel some good questions were raised? Host Jim Burneka speaks with Brendan McDonough, the lone survivor of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. Born September 6, 1947 in Providence he was the son of the late Thomas and Phyllis (Kubilius) McDonough. More from Jim Burneka: https://firefightercancerconsultants.. case or situation. He enlisted in the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a crew of elite hotshot firefighters based in Prescott, Arizona. Kaihla Rettinger Gave Birth to Her Son Three Days After Brendan McLoughlin Met Miranda Lambert. There, s nothing that is going to be in there that people don. Brendan McDonough (born December 27, 1996) is an American soccer player. First presented in 1934, it is the oldest multicultural festival in the nation. On June 30, 2013 the Yarnell Hill Fire claimed their lives when a firestorm roared through brush 90 miles. He left his post for safety after notifying the men of rapidly changing weather. I really want to share some of my darker moments, and help people know that it, by doing the book and that I was going to write about something that I didn. But I remember hearing that. I loved fighting wildfires. The group. Brendan McDonagh - Wikipedia Whilemedical(PTSD) problems forced him to give up his career as a firefighter, he believes that his larger purpose in life is to help others recover from trauma like he suffered and to offer treatments such as faith BASED counseling and therapy for recovery. Family life. Im closing this article to comments for a few days. Brendan Smialowski--AFP-Getty Images . 1,004 posts. Grab your life vests! Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. When the fire shifted and moved toward McDonough, the rate of spread increased dramatically. McDonough says now that he and Willis talked about whether Marsh made it to the ranch or not, but I still have not gained any clarity out of that. Discover Brendan McDonough's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Walking out, he met up with a member of the Blue Ridge Hotshots, who gave him a ride out. He's gotten a young woman named Natalie pregnant. and Kara Warner. It would have been more of a reconfirmation of what I saw that day and trying to make sure my brothers were not going to get blamed for something they didnt do. McDonough was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. For the many years, he has thrived in Hollywood, the celebrity has not fallen prey to controversial stories in the hands of the . , money, salary, income, and assets. Thomas James McDonough | Cranston Herald McDonough and his wife, Lynette have three children, daughter, Caroline, and sons, Patrick and Brendan. t make any sense, and some people really struggle with that. A rescue pilot described it as a "panic call" and it prompted Air Attack, the state command overseeing the fire, to bark, "Whoever is yelling on the radio, get off the air.". No, we are going to stay here in the black. Survivor of Yarnell fire takes new job - KNXV We did it because we could support our family and do what we loved.". It was during that hike that the crew became entrapped and were killed. Brendan and his wife, Alyssa, founded and ran a nonprofit that raised $200K for rural villages in Tanzania to renovate a primary school, establish a community learning center, and construct a . Brendan has a checkered past: He's a drug user. Reportedly in that radio conversation, Marsh ordered Steed to have the crew leave the safety zone and meet him at the ranch. The next day on the fire near Yarnell, Steed, as the acting Superintendent may have thought that McDonough was not quite 100 percent recovered when he assigned him to serve as a lookout for the crew staying in one spot observing the fire, taking weather observations, and updating the rest of the crew on the status of the fire and where it was in relation to their location.
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