This Man Lost 19 "Brothers" To A Wildfire. Now He's Sober. He enlisted in the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a crew of elite hotshot firefighters based in Prescott, Arizona. Im not going to be riding around in a Maserati from a book.. Today, Brendan McDonough continues to live in Prescott, Arizona with his 3 children and wife while running Holdfast Recovery. Avon Man Arrested For Threatening, Assault, Held On $700K Bond "The sooner the decision is made, the more time we have to put a team together," he said. t sell out my brothers that saved my life in order to do a book. As the other 19 firefighters inexplicably left the safety of an already burned area and hiked through unburned brush toward a ranch. 365 following. Brendan McDonough was on the verge of becoming a hopeless, inveterate heroin addict when he, for the sake of his young daughter, decided to turn his life around. The arguments over the minutia have moved far beyond ferreting out the lessons to be learned and have transmogrified into fighting about publicly satisfying the selfish, morbid curiosity some have about every detail that happened that day. She was 67. The crew had 11 kids among them, including McDonough's own two-year-old daughter, and three not yet born who lost dads they'll never meet. The mother told police she put McDonough off, but he eventually showed up at her house on Oct. 11. Brendan McDonough | MLSsoccer.com "I sunk. We have estimated The group. Have a wildland fire news tip? On June 30, 2013 the Yarnell Hill Fire claimed their lives when a firestorm roared through brush 90 miles northwest of Phoenix, leaving McDonough the only survivor of the 20-man Granite Mountain Hotshot crew. I wanted to make sure I wasn. But the allure of cameras from the early 2000s for Gen-Zers reflects a broader search for meaning. Daddy no, the children yell, according to the warrant. I said, 'Okay.'". Actor Neal McDonough and his wife Ruve arrive at "The Losers" Premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on April 20, 2010 in Hollywood, California. I, m not going to be riding around in a Maserati. Avon Man Held On $700,000 Bail After Arrest On Charges Of Threatening Covered in soot over his bright yellow protective clothing and heavy boots as darkness fell on June 30, waves of guilt for being the only Hotshot spared death was a gut punch made all the more painful by the chirping phones behind him in the buggy. I think what the attorney Paladini said, it wasnt from my mouth and I never talked to Paladini, so what he had to say wasnt correct. He was the beloved husband of Donna (Fratus) McDonough. Brendan James Mcdonough- Lone Survivor Arizona fire crew But at first, this one on a boulder-strewn hillside at 5,000 feet outside the small town of Yarnell, Ariz. seemed nothing out of the ordinary to the team of dogged firefighters dispatched in their white fire buggies that fateful day from nearby Prescott. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. What is the lone surviving firefighter from Yarnell Hill fire doing to And I came to a point where I just didn't have any more tears.". It showed me that I wanted to help people, but I needed to get help myself. [5], McDonough made his professional debut on June 26, 2019, starting in a 22 draw with FC Dallas. Surviving member of Ariz. hotshots crew spotted trouble - USA Today Our founder, Brendan McDonough , understands what it takes for successful healing and recovery. That was the biggest thing. "Why wasn't I there with them?" We hope that any additional comments, as we said before, will be in a more productive, meaningful, and positive atmosphere. Brendan McDonough, speaking here in an exclusive interview with ABC News, was the only member of his 20-man Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot firefighting crew to survive the Yarnell Hill Fire in late June 2013. Show more Show. I'm kind of numb at that point. He took a job with the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides financial and other assistance to injured wildland firefighters or their families in the case of a line-of-duty death. He enlisted in the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a crew of elite hotshot firefighters based in Prescott, Arizona. He encourages all of you to make these festivals a part of your calendar during the summer and enjoy all Montana has to offer. ", Incredibly, McDonough says quitting firefighting is "not an option. Brendan McDonough, 21, was serving as lookout and relaying key information to his team when the wildfire suddenly changed direction Andrew Ashcraft died beside 18 of his 'hotshot' comrades on. What led to the deaths of the experienced team of firefighters remains under official investigation by Arizona, whose deputy state forester Jerry Payne caused an uproar last week by publicly blaming the crew's slain leader Eric Marsh for violating firefighting rules. Brendan McDonough, Hotshot who survived deadly Arizona fire, opens up This video shares the incredible journey of Brendan McDonough. At 26 years old, Brendan McDonough height is 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) . He had never talked to me face to face, and Chief Willis did another article saying thats not how it happened., McDonough explains that the post-fire trauma, the investigations, and multiple lawsuits were a huge strain on him, and he certainly didnt blame Marsh for what had happened. I feel like just now within the last six months I, ve been able to build relationships with some of the families outside of that, we talk about my daughter, what they are up to, what, s going on with their lives, grandkids. This information is not intended to create, and receipt 86305 The barrage of text messages contain similarly threatening language, according to the warrant. McDonough is not currently working at a conventional job; he is working on a book, which he says has been therapeutic for him. McDonough said. "May the sun shine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your fields". Brendan and his wife, Alyssa, founded and ran a nonprofit that raised $200K for rural villages in Tanzania to renovate a primary school, establish a community learning center, and construct a . They were lost that day; I lost my boys. Survivor of Arizona Hotshot Tragedy, Brendan McDonough, Breaks Silence his background, drug problems, burglary conviction, and becoming a father at age 19. m sharing the stories and the great memories I have of them, and I. what I saw, how I felt, and what I think happened. and Kara Warner. He did hear, though, a discussion about Marsh going on ahead toward the ranch to make sure the route was good, and Marsh later told Steed they should make their way down there. Yep! Brendan McDonough - Address & Phone Number | Whitepages I loved fighting wildfires. View the map. Brendan discusses []. Verified. Im closing this article to comments for a few days. 1579 West Gurley St His relationship with Jesus andChristian-based treatmenthas helped him heal and help others do the same. He had never talked to me face to face, and Chief Willis did another article saying that, McDonough explains that the post-fire trauma, the investigations, and multiple lawsuits were a huge strain on him, and he certainly didn, everyone was trying to blame them and I just wanted people to know that these guys were amazing men and they got caught in a really bad situation. Reporting from Phoenix Brendan McDonough survived one of the deadliest wildfires in U.S. history, an inferno near Yarnell, Ariz., that killed 19 of his fellow Granite Mountain Hotshots on. He continued to argue with his wife and struck her in the shoulder, according to the warrant. s thankful for the others on the crew who taught him about being both a dad and a hotshot. David O'Connell was the auxiliary bishop of the Los Angeles Archdiocese who was found dead in a home on February 18, 2023. "They made me the man, and father I am today. Im a reminder about Yarnell. It saved my life. He likes Prescott, he says, but acknowledges that it. Arizona Gov. McDonough said he joined the Hotshots after some trouble with the law and credits the experience with helping him overcome his troubled teenage years. I couldnt even get a job at McDonalds flipping burgers. I, m still going to be making truck payments, I, m still going to be struggling to pay for my medical insurance. He adds that he didnt hear a radio conversation between the two about why the crew left the black. Prosecutor Danielle OConnell told Hartford Superior Court Judge Claudia Baio that she was concerned about the alleged assaults and threats McDonough made in front of his three children. 1981 Graduate of Bentley College in Waltham. He held that post since 2002. Theres nothing that is going to be in there that people dont already know., The book, he says, is about his life his background, drug problems, burglary conviction, and becoming a father at age 19. The surviving member of an elite Arizona firefighting crew that was overrun by flames says he went numb after learning the 19 men he considered his brothers were dead, and he wonders why he alone was spared what he calls a "horrible, freak accident.". m a reminder about Yarnell. He's gotten a young woman named Natalie pregnant. What, if anything, does Brendan think are the most important lessons learned? Inside the Granite Mountain Hotshots' station house in Prescott, in his first visit only weeks after the catastrophic loss, McDonough felt at ease -- enough to reveal his deep pain over not being with his friends, who were all like family to him, when they died in their boots. the untold story of the Yarnell Hill Fire lone survivor. They were lost that day; I lost my boys. Everything was black, and he notice a chainsaw blade and a pick ax head with the handle burned away. And he is determined not to let down the families of the Nineteen, either. He could see them clearly enough to identify individuals as he left and headed toward a nearby highway used as a command center for the fire response. Neal McDonough and wife Ruve McDonough attend the Safe Kids Day presented by Nationwide on April 26, 2015 in West Hollywood, California. On the next day, Oct. 12, McDonough began calling to say he wanted to see the kids and have a family dinner. COLLEGE: At Georgetown, the 6-foot-2 defender made 56 starts in 63 appearances, collecting two goals and two . It was just weighing heavy on my heart everyone was trying to blame them and I just wanted people to know that these guys were amazing men and they got caught in a really bad situation. He enlisted in the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a crew of elite hotshot firefighters based in Prescott, Arizona. He is a member of famous with the age 26 years old group. . The day before, he had been sent home sick by, Jesse Steed, Captain and second in command, of the crew. Lone survivor from Yarnell Hill Fire publishes book Neal McDonough and Ruve McDonough pose during a ceremony at the 58nd Monte-Carlo Television Festival in Monaco on June 19, 2018. At his wife Kari's insistence, McDonough briefly gave up the bike after a traffic . They taught me all they knew, and they also taught me how to be a man, a well-rounded man. The festival committee is all-volunteer, and each year the event grows in awareness and recognition from all over the world. Sunk into my seat, I sunk into myself," he said. Grab your life vests! McDonough touts love for Butte, government experience in bid for chief Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Brendan R. McDonough is a Butte native and graduated from Butte Central High School and Montana Tech with a degree in Business Informational Technology. Pushed by strong winds created by a passing thunderstorm, the fire burned over the crew, killing them all, even though they sought protection inside their emergency fire shelters. Ive always wanted to be in a job of service to others. He enlisted in the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a team of elite firefighters based in Prescott, Arizona. By Mike Miller. Yeah, way off in the distance I could see it coming in. And then came very bad news that smoke-choked afternoon. That night he showed up at the wifes house and began pounding on the door. The blond, rail-thin veteran of three fire seasons led ABC News through the crew's station, a place once a center of activity in fire season but now sorrowfully quiet and filled with U.S. flags signed by fire squads, commemorative wood carvings, postcards and letters of gratitude from many whose homes were saved by the Hotshots, as well as children's playful drawings saying "thank you." BRIAN ROSS, JAMES GORDON MEEK and CINDY GALLI. Almost two hours after it was reported at 4:47 p.m. that the Hotshots had deployed protective personal shelters, an Arizona state paramedic hiked up to the site of torched chaparral and confirmed the worst. According to the warrant, the couple has been separated and the children are living with their mother. The true story behind the events that inspired the major motion picture Only the Brave. I lost nineteen amazing men that were my structure, he says. Brendan McDonough - Wikipedia [3], On January 11, 2019, McDonough was selected 35th overall in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft by Vancouver Whitecaps FC. He is Chairman of PEAL Capital Group Limited. This episode focuses on the aftermath of the June 30th, 2013 Yarnell wildfire in which 19 of his fellow Hotshot brothers died in the line of duty. Exclusive: Sole Survivor of Arizona Hotshot Firefighting Tragedy Asks McDonough is a young center back who will look to develop as a professional in 2019. He says people dont understand how much face-to-face conversation Steed and Marsh engaged in that afternoon. Please keep in mind our commenting ground rules before you post a comment. Knowing that these families would see me, but not anyone else off that crew. After attending Our Lady of Mercy and East Greenwich High School, he proudly served in the United States Air Force. After days of mounting media scrutiny, his identity has been. Now your not going to. He was a member of the Steering Committee for the visit of the President of Ireland, H.E. They taught me all they knew, and they also taught me how to be a man, a well-rounded man. The sooner the better," Councilman Jim Lamerson said. Brendan McDonough . Career [ edit] Early life [ edit] McDonough was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. Activity I had a. ", McDonough radioed back a brief reply to call if they needed anything and that he'd be with the buggies. "When I heard they had to deploy, I was crushed mentally and emotionally," McDonough told the Prescott newspaper. When she went back to work, he began to send text messages, including one in which he threatened to kill her and her mother and take the children, according to the warrant. His previous work experience was limited: He was an auto-shop employee, worked at a home-improvement store in the garden department, and as a prep cook and busboy. But I remember hearing that. McDonough says he was collecting weather observations from his lookout post when the weather warning came over the radio. I wanted to make sure I wasnt letting people tell stories that werent true.. ABC News' Sabina Ghebremedhin contributed to this report. To learn more about organizations helping the families of the 19 fallen firefighters, visit Prescott Firefighters Charities and The Wildland Firefighter Foundation. Every one of them strong, smart, always ready to head into the danger others fled. 'Only the Brave' resonates more following this past fire season The baby came a few days early; their baby . Brendan McDonough, Yarnell Hill Fire survivor, speaks at the memorial service for the 19 firefighters that died on the fire. Brendan was fortunate enough to work with an incredible group of people interested in making An R R a world-class festival in Montana. As a sophomore at Westwood High School in suburban Boston he landed a gig at local sports radio station . McDonough, who looks and sounds like a distant Kennedy relative, was a sports buff as a boy.