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CEDAR CITY — The work of a wildland firefighter known as a Hot Shot is grueling, dangerous and often takes place in unrelenting conditions. They're the men and women who head into far areas to fight wildfires. In June 2012, much of Utah was on fire.
"It was hot and it was dry," said Jason Curry with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands.
The Lone Peak Hot Shot crew battled the White Rock Fire near Cedar City. As the crew constructed fire lines, it waited for the help of an air tanker.
"If you're the closest available and you're needed, you'll be dispatched to that location," Curry said.
Tanker 11 out of Boise came to their aid.
"(The Lone Peak crew) watched it come in and something went wrong and the aircraft went into the mountain," Curry said. "They immediately responded and assessed things and found the grim results."
Pilot Todd Tompkins and co-pilot Ronnie Chambless lost their lives that day.
"There's a strong family vibe through the wildland fire community," Curry said.
That is the reason the Lone Peak Hot Shots decided to do something so these men would always be remembered. They're hoping to build a memorial at the site where Tompkins and Chambless died. The memorial will include two granite obelisks measuring 5 feet tall. They hope they will serve as a reminder to all who see them.
It's a humbling feeling to be there and know something dramatic happened here.
–Jason Curry
"It's a humbling feeling to be there and know something dramatic happened here," Curry said. "Somebody lost their life here."
Now, the men and women who so often help Utah are asking for help. *They're hoping people will donate to the memorial that will finally honor the two men for making the ultimate sacrifice.
"This is going to mean a lot to the families of these two men to know this is something they will be remembered for for a long time," Curry said.
The cost of the memorial is nearly $15,000. *Donations are being accepted at a youcaring site.
**KSL.com has not verified the accuracy of the information provided with respect to the account nor does KSL.com assure that the monies deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
