Arizona

The savage strength of this system takes over with ease in mere moments.

An Arizona commission has approved a nearly $560,000 fine against the state Forestry Division in the deaths of 19 firefighters.

19 hotshot firefighters lost their lives on Sunday after being trapped in a raging wildfire near Yarnell, Arizona, located northwest of Phoenix. The crew was caught as the fire quickly changed direction and they were forced to deploy their portable fire shelters, but perished in the flames.

As the largest wildfire in Arizona state history continued to burn in the eastern central part of the state on Wednesday, firefighters in 11 other states were busy battling blazes.