Storm King Mountain

A lightning-struck fire on Storm King Mountain west of Glenwood Springs had been left for several days. When crews were sent in, they were cutting line downhill on a steep slope of Gambel oak, with the fire below them - against every rule taught.

A dry cold front came through in the afternoon. The wind went from ten miles an hour to forty-five and the fire came up the slope at them.

Fourteen were killed: nine Prineville Hotshots, three smokejumpers and two helitack crew. Some were within two hundred feet of the ridge.

The survivors reached the top with the fire at their heels. One of them made it over and turned round to find nobody behind him.

Every one of the dead had been carrying a fire shelter and several deployed them; it was not survivable.