Gatherings in Colo., Prineville honor 14 fallen firefighters

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — More than 100 people have gathered in western Colorado to honor 14 firefighters killed 25 years ago on Storm King Mountain.

The Glenwood Springs Post Independent reports that family members and friends of the victims as well as survivors of the fire hiked up the Storm King Memorial Trail Saturday and reflected on the lessons and losses of the July 6, 1994, disaster.

Nine of the dead were members of the Prineville Hotshots firefighting team from Central Oregon.

The lightning-caused fired raced up a steep hillside, trapping 12 firefighters on a fire line. Two others were found dead on top of a ridge.

Jim Roth’s younger brother, Roger, was a smokejumper who died in the fire. He says it’s important to remember what happened to help prevent a repeat.

A similar gathering took place Saturday in Prineville at the Wildland Firefighters Memorial. A video piece by NewsChannel 21’s Tyson Beauchemin, featuring several who spoke at that event, is attached to this story.

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Information from: Post Independent, http://www.postindependent.com/