Yarnell fire survivor to be deposed on firefighter deaths
PHOENIX — The sole surviving member of the Granite Mountain Hotshots is scheduled to undergo a sworn deposition later this month about the events of June 30, 2013, when 19 members of his crew died in the Yarnell Hill Fire.
Though Brendan McDonough has previously been interviewed by fire investigators and the media, he has never answered questions about the accident under oath. His testimony is of potential interest in litigation stemming from the catastrophe, particularly in light of recent claims that McDonough overheard a crucial radio transmission between hotshot crew bosses about the positioning of the firefighting team.
According to public records, McDonough is set to be deposed May 28 at a Phoenix law office. His attorney could not be reached for comment.
McDonough is expected to shed light on what he heard during a radio conversation between Granite Mountain Hotshots supervisor Eric Marsh and his deputy, Jesse Steed, shortly before the crew was overcome by the fire.
According to one unofficial account, Marsh was purported to have ordered Steed to abandon a safe zone and join him with the crew at another location near. According to the account, Steed resisted, saying it was unsafe, but relented when given a direct order. All 19 firefighters were overcome by flames a short time later.
McDonough disclosed the previously unreported radio transmissions last fall to Darrell Willis, Prescott's former wildland fires chief, who shared an account of the conversation with City Attorney Jon Paladini. McDonough and Willis subsequently said the narrative related by Paladini was not accurate.
What was said during the radio conversation could change the legal dynamics in multimillion-dollar lawsuits stemming from the fire.
Families of the fallen hotshots filed wrongful-death complaints against the Arizona Division of Forestry, which directed fire-suppression efforts. The Division of Forestry also is appealing citations and fines stemming from an investigation by the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health.
McDonough did not appear at two previously scheduled depositions related to the litigation.
He was supposed to be deposed Feb. 26, but according to a legal brief filed by the Division of Forestry, testimony was postponed "due to Mr. McDonough's therapist informing the parties that subjecting Mr. McDonough to a deposition would impact the progress made in relation to the therapist's treatment of Mr. McDonough for post-traumatic stress disorder."
Contributing: Dennis Wagner and Robert Anglen, The Arizona Republic.