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My Lost Brothers: The Untold Story by the Yarnell Hill Fire's Lone Survivor
The true story behind the events that inspired the major motion picture Only the Brave .
A "unique and bracing" ( Booklist ) first-person account by the sole survivor of Arizona's disastrous 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire, which took the lives of 19 "hotshots" -- firefighters trained specifically to battle wildfires.
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. He enlisted in the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a team of elite firefighters based in Prescott, Arizona. Their leader, Eric Marsh, was in a desperate crunch after four hotshots left the unit, and perhaps seeing a glimmer of promise in the skinny would-be recruit, he took a chance on the unlikely McDonough, and the chance paid off. Despite the crew's skepticism, and thanks in large part to Marsh's firm but loving encouragement, McDonough unlocked a latent drive and dedication, going on to successfully battle a number of blazes and eventually win the confidence of the men he came to call his brothers.
Then, on June 30, 2013, while McDonough -- "Donut" as he'd been dubbed by his team--served as lookout, they confronted a freak, 3,000-degree inferno in nearby Yarnell, Arizona. The relentless firestorm ultimately trapped his hotshot brothers, tragically killing all 19 of them within minutes. Nationwide, it was the greatest loss of firefighter lives since the 9/11 attacks.
Granite Mountain is a gripping memoir that traces McDonough's story of finding his way out of the dead end of drugs, finding his purpose among the Granite Mountain Hotshots, and the minute-by-minute account of the fateful day he lost the very men who had saved him. A harrowing and redemptive tale of resilience in the face of tragedy, Granite Mountain is also a powerful reminder of the heroism of the people who put themselves in harm's way to protect us every day.
A "unique and bracing" ( Booklist ) first-person account by the sole survivor of Arizona's disastrous 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire, which took the lives of 19 "hotshots" -- firefighters trained specifically to battle wildfires.
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. He enlisted in the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a team of elite firefighters based in Prescott, Arizona. Their leader, Eric Marsh, was in a desperate crunch after four hotshots left the unit, and perhaps seeing a glimmer of promise in the skinny would-be recruit, he took a chance on the unlikely McDonough, and the chance paid off. Despite the crew's skepticism, and thanks in large part to Marsh's firm but loving encouragement, McDonough unlocked a latent drive and dedication, going on to successfully battle a number of blazes and eventually win the confidence of the men he came to call his brothers.
Then, on June 30, 2013, while McDonough -- "Donut" as he'd been dubbed by his team--served as lookout, they confronted a freak, 3,000-degree inferno in nearby Yarnell, Arizona. The relentless firestorm ultimately trapped his hotshot brothers, tragically killing all 19 of them within minutes. Nationwide, it was the greatest loss of firefighter lives since the 9/11 attacks.
Granite Mountain is a gripping memoir that traces McDonough's story of finding his way out of the dead end of drugs, finding his purpose among the Granite Mountain Hotshots, and the minute-by-minute account of the fateful day he lost the very men who had saved him. A harrowing and redemptive tale of resilience in the face of tragedy, Granite Mountain is also a powerful reminder of the heroism of the people who put themselves in harm's way to protect us every day.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 3, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews
November 4, 2017
Gripping and inspirational.
I felt drawn to this book because I’ve been through wildland firefighter training, so I have a ton of respect for the guys who do it for a living. And I always appreciate people who are willing to tell their own stories. Especially tough, intensely personal stories. Telling the hard truth is one of the highest forms of courage we can share with each other as human beings, and Brendan McDonough holds nothing back.
The author is the lone survivor of the Yarnell Hill fire that claimed the lives of his entire Hotshot team. That fact is in the title of the book because it’s human nature to be interested in that aspect of his story—it’s unique, and it’s intensely dramatic. But no tragedy should ever define a human life. One of the things I love about this book is that it shows how much more there is to Brendan McDonough.
Although Brendan speaks openly about his team and about the tragedy that befell them, he writes just as openly about the challenges in his past. And he does it in a way that can inspire others to overcome their own obstacles. Never does he suggest there is something special about him. Quite the opposite. The overall message of the book is that burdens can be carried. Challenges can be met. Life can go on. Not just for Brendan McDonough, but for us all.
I would argue, though, that there is something special about him—the fact that he was willing to write it all down and publish it. All of it. The good and the bad. The humor and the pain. The brotherhood and the loss. The story of his life so far. He has a lot of years left ahead of him. Years that will define him as other things—as a father, for example. I hope he’ll decide to write about fatherhood, about his life as a writer and speaker, and about all the interesting characters he’s going to meet along the way. His is a unique voice, and I hope to hear more from it.
I felt drawn to this book because I’ve been through wildland firefighter training, so I have a ton of respect for the guys who do it for a living. And I always appreciate people who are willing to tell their own stories. Especially tough, intensely personal stories. Telling the hard truth is one of the highest forms of courage we can share with each other as human beings, and Brendan McDonough holds nothing back.
The author is the lone survivor of the Yarnell Hill fire that claimed the lives of his entire Hotshot team. That fact is in the title of the book because it’s human nature to be interested in that aspect of his story—it’s unique, and it’s intensely dramatic. But no tragedy should ever define a human life. One of the things I love about this book is that it shows how much more there is to Brendan McDonough.
Although Brendan speaks openly about his team and about the tragedy that befell them, he writes just as openly about the challenges in his past. And he does it in a way that can inspire others to overcome their own obstacles. Never does he suggest there is something special about him. Quite the opposite. The overall message of the book is that burdens can be carried. Challenges can be met. Life can go on. Not just for Brendan McDonough, but for us all.
I would argue, though, that there is something special about him—the fact that he was willing to write it all down and publish it. All of it. The good and the bad. The humor and the pain. The brotherhood and the loss. The story of his life so far. He has a lot of years left ahead of him. Years that will define him as other things—as a father, for example. I hope he’ll decide to write about fatherhood, about his life as a writer and speaker, and about all the interesting characters he’s going to meet along the way. His is a unique voice, and I hope to hear more from it.
July 23, 2017
Most folks will find this to be an interesting and exciting book. After 24 years working for two of the biggest federal agencies in wildland fire, I find it extremely frustrating, starting from the very beginning. As represented, the author and another crew member basically go out cowboying on a serious large fire, drop about a hundred common sense safety precautions and rules, and nearly get themselves injured/killed as a result. What they did was absurdly foolish and totally unprofessional.
The author goes on to describe how he's literally detoxing from heroin in his first days in the crew. As we like to say in fire, "What the actual fuck?!" These two things unwittingly draw the professionalism of the GM crew into question. Maybe they make for entertaining reading, but they sure as hell underscore some significant problems in Prescott Fire's decision making.
So enjoy the book, be interested in fire and go see the hunky dudes go act this out in the movie. But don't think McDonough's recommendations for corrective actions (like GPS tracking devices on every firefighter) will work. He's got two years of experience and no true scope of incident command and fire operations. Don't lionize his experience, don't think he knows what he's talking about. He's a kid dealing with significant trauma and I feel terrible for what he and the Yarnell families have been through. But please don't paint the entire wildland fire program with the same brush the author has used to paint here. It isn't, and should never be, like that.
The author goes on to describe how he's literally detoxing from heroin in his first days in the crew. As we like to say in fire, "What the actual fuck?!" These two things unwittingly draw the professionalism of the GM crew into question. Maybe they make for entertaining reading, but they sure as hell underscore some significant problems in Prescott Fire's decision making.
So enjoy the book, be interested in fire and go see the hunky dudes go act this out in the movie. But don't think McDonough's recommendations for corrective actions (like GPS tracking devices on every firefighter) will work. He's got two years of experience and no true scope of incident command and fire operations. Don't lionize his experience, don't think he knows what he's talking about. He's a kid dealing with significant trauma and I feel terrible for what he and the Yarnell families have been through. But please don't paint the entire wildland fire program with the same brush the author has used to paint here. It isn't, and should never be, like that.
June 21, 2017
So...this book is sold in the UK as 'Granite Mountain' but is the same work.
The story detailed within this book has been in my mind off and on quite a lot over the years (since 2013), due largely to being familiar with the area where it's set.
In short it deals with the June 2013 death of the 19 firefighters out of Prescott AZ, who formed the Granite Mountain Hotshots, when the fire they were working on at Yarnell AZ changed direction.
It's written by the surviving member of the team - and that's only because he was assigned away from the rest of his 'brothers' a short time earlier in order to track the fire's progress.
The book first deals with the authors troubled teenage years, dabbling in drink and drugs and how joining the Hotshots gave him exactly what he was seeking in order to make something of his life.
It's an easy book to read as the story is so gripping - and brutally honest.
The last 90 or so pages make for rather 'painful' reading when we get down to the June 2013 fire, it's tragic events and the awful aftermath.
There are plenty of other bits and bobs on the 'net which gives details of the fire on that day - but it's good to get the straight facts from the only person there on the day & around to recount them.
It certainly leaves the reader with a feeling of total admiration and respect for the hot, dangerous, dirty, and very necessary job these men do.
Carrying chain saws and all the other tools they take into the brush with them would be bad enough on its own.
Factor in temperatures of 100 degrees plus (without taking into account the heat created by the fire itself) with the long shifts they frequently have to work and it's no wonder the people whose lives and homes they save from getting burnt to a crisp are forever grateful.
If there's one book I'd recommend for you to read right now it's this one.
Get a copy........!
The story detailed within this book has been in my mind off and on quite a lot over the years (since 2013), due largely to being familiar with the area where it's set.
In short it deals with the June 2013 death of the 19 firefighters out of Prescott AZ, who formed the Granite Mountain Hotshots, when the fire they were working on at Yarnell AZ changed direction.
It's written by the surviving member of the team - and that's only because he was assigned away from the rest of his 'brothers' a short time earlier in order to track the fire's progress.
The book first deals with the authors troubled teenage years, dabbling in drink and drugs and how joining the Hotshots gave him exactly what he was seeking in order to make something of his life.
It's an easy book to read as the story is so gripping - and brutally honest.
The last 90 or so pages make for rather 'painful' reading when we get down to the June 2013 fire, it's tragic events and the awful aftermath.
There are plenty of other bits and bobs on the 'net which gives details of the fire on that day - but it's good to get the straight facts from the only person there on the day & around to recount them.
It certainly leaves the reader with a feeling of total admiration and respect for the hot, dangerous, dirty, and very necessary job these men do.
Carrying chain saws and all the other tools they take into the brush with them would be bad enough on its own.
Factor in temperatures of 100 degrees plus (without taking into account the heat created by the fire itself) with the long shifts they frequently have to work and it's no wonder the people whose lives and homes they save from getting burnt to a crisp are forever grateful.
If there's one book I'd recommend for you to read right now it's this one.
Get a copy........!
November 24, 2017
“My Lost Brothers”, (newly re-titled “Granite Mountain” in the U.S.), has been at the very top of my reading list ever since its release.
I’m a Prescottonian. Born, raised and still live in Prescott, Arizona. Everyone here knows someone who served on the Granite Mountain Hot Shots, whether or not they were on the crew during the Yarnell Hill Fire. We all knew at least one of them, or knew of them / knew them secondhand, knew their loved ones etc. So the Yarnell Hill Fire was really a community tragedy. It changed us all and our town forever. And it’s always felt very personal and, (excuse the pun), close to home for me. These were OUR men. They represented OUR town.
I have always liked Brendan. I’ve always trusted and believed him, his story, and his capability to carry on his fallen brothers’ legacy. Again, I live in Prescott. So I’ve heard all of the rumors and doubt surrounding him and his involvement in the investigation after the fire. But I’ve always just personally felt that he was being completely honest & trying to do right by these men’s memories. When I saw him doing interviews promoting the book, I instantly REALLY wanted to read it. But then I just never did. The timing never seemed right. I never felt ‘ready’.
Then I went to the opening night premiere in Prescott of the movie “Only the Brave”. First thing when I got home that night, I purchased two copies of Brendan’s book off of amazon. One for me, and one for the school library where I work as the librarian. ... And. I. DEVOURED it!
Brendan’s storytelling weaving his own personal life story along with his collective life story shared with the GM hot shots, is simply beautiful.
I couldn’t believe how much I completely and totally related to his childhood stories with pieces such as my recollections of my own mother and complicated family and even my favorite childhood book, “Hatchet”. I used to read it at least once a year. I literally laughed out loud SO hard when Brendan brought it up! And just his general feelings as a young teenager moving from being a beach boy in California to our ‘worlds oldest rodeo’ town of Prescott. Maybe it’s my own personal experiences mixed in as well, but I just adored and completely agreed with all his recollections on that.
Generally, it wasn’t a sad or depressing book. It was reminnisant, but in a positive way. Just as I felt the film did, it focused on life and how the hot shots lived it far more than it focused on death and how those 19 heroes lost their lives. Of course, it paid homage to and respected them, their lives and telling the truth behind their deaths.
And the end to me was brilliantly orchestrated. He tells the story of the day they died in perfect detail from beginning to end. Then he explains how he dealt with being the lone survivor in a VERY real and candid way. He then discusses what we could and should be doing to make advances in taking care of these men on the front lines and not just continuing to let them get killed. He closes in a tribute to his lost brothers as he visits their graves.
Often Funny. I laughed so hard, I cried. When Brendan describes Prescott, especially when he first moved here. But also the stories of camaraderie, boys being boys and the various hazing, pranks and jokes they played on each other out of love or to cheer each other up & egg one another on through difficult times; oh my goodness, how I laughed.
Definitely bittersweet and at times, terribly sad. I cried and cried at the stories and the discussion of dealing with that kind of loss, PTSD and depression. Stories of TRUE brotherhood, love and sacrifice better than any romantic love story out there. And it’s real.
I could not stop reading this one. Great job by Brendan, great job by his co-author, Stephan. Personally, I found it to be a well written and moving tribute to Crew 7.
I’m a Prescottonian. Born, raised and still live in Prescott, Arizona. Everyone here knows someone who served on the Granite Mountain Hot Shots, whether or not they were on the crew during the Yarnell Hill Fire. We all knew at least one of them, or knew of them / knew them secondhand, knew their loved ones etc. So the Yarnell Hill Fire was really a community tragedy. It changed us all and our town forever. And it’s always felt very personal and, (excuse the pun), close to home for me. These were OUR men. They represented OUR town.
I have always liked Brendan. I’ve always trusted and believed him, his story, and his capability to carry on his fallen brothers’ legacy. Again, I live in Prescott. So I’ve heard all of the rumors and doubt surrounding him and his involvement in the investigation after the fire. But I’ve always just personally felt that he was being completely honest & trying to do right by these men’s memories. When I saw him doing interviews promoting the book, I instantly REALLY wanted to read it. But then I just never did. The timing never seemed right. I never felt ‘ready’.
Then I went to the opening night premiere in Prescott of the movie “Only the Brave”. First thing when I got home that night, I purchased two copies of Brendan’s book off of amazon. One for me, and one for the school library where I work as the librarian. ... And. I. DEVOURED it!
Brendan’s storytelling weaving his own personal life story along with his collective life story shared with the GM hot shots, is simply beautiful.
I couldn’t believe how much I completely and totally related to his childhood stories with pieces such as my recollections of my own mother and complicated family and even my favorite childhood book, “Hatchet”. I used to read it at least once a year. I literally laughed out loud SO hard when Brendan brought it up! And just his general feelings as a young teenager moving from being a beach boy in California to our ‘worlds oldest rodeo’ town of Prescott. Maybe it’s my own personal experiences mixed in as well, but I just adored and completely agreed with all his recollections on that.
Generally, it wasn’t a sad or depressing book. It was reminnisant, but in a positive way. Just as I felt the film did, it focused on life and how the hot shots lived it far more than it focused on death and how those 19 heroes lost their lives. Of course, it paid homage to and respected them, their lives and telling the truth behind their deaths.
And the end to me was brilliantly orchestrated. He tells the story of the day they died in perfect detail from beginning to end. Then he explains how he dealt with being the lone survivor in a VERY real and candid way. He then discusses what we could and should be doing to make advances in taking care of these men on the front lines and not just continuing to let them get killed. He closes in a tribute to his lost brothers as he visits their graves.
Often Funny. I laughed so hard, I cried. When Brendan describes Prescott, especially when he first moved here. But also the stories of camaraderie, boys being boys and the various hazing, pranks and jokes they played on each other out of love or to cheer each other up & egg one another on through difficult times; oh my goodness, how I laughed.
Definitely bittersweet and at times, terribly sad. I cried and cried at the stories and the discussion of dealing with that kind of loss, PTSD and depression. Stories of TRUE brotherhood, love and sacrifice better than any romantic love story out there. And it’s real.
I could not stop reading this one. Great job by Brendan, great job by his co-author, Stephan. Personally, I found it to be a well written and moving tribute to Crew 7.
June 6, 2016
What an inspiring story, this is one of the greatest books I have read. Brendan McDonough tells his life story and the story of the Granite Mountain hotshots brilliantly and it is a real tribute to the memory of his 19 brothers. He tells his story beautifully and transports you into his life and experiences throughout his life, from his childhood to post Yarnell fire.
I have fought some veld fires in my years on our farm in South Africa and have seen first-hand how unpredictable a wildfire can be and how fast it can turn on you and move and Mr. McDonough gives lots of insight into the working of fires and he does it so that everyone can understand it.
His story touched my heart and is very inspiring and I would recommend this to everyone!! Good luck in your future Brendan!!
I have fought some veld fires in my years on our farm in South Africa and have seen first-hand how unpredictable a wildfire can be and how fast it can turn on you and move and Mr. McDonough gives lots of insight into the working of fires and he does it so that everyone can understand it.
His story touched my heart and is very inspiring and I would recommend this to everyone!! Good luck in your future Brendan!!
September 10, 2021
It was incredibly brave of McDonough to tackle not only his substance abuse, hard childhood, and depression in this book but also his PTSD, his survivor's guilt, and his loss and trauma so that others can learn not just from the firefighting accident but how to also ask for and receive help.
November 3, 2017
I made the mistake of reading some reviews prior to reading this book, and now I cannot help but comment on some.
This book is a man's story, it was what he lived, and survived. It's easy to sit back and judge everything he did or describes sitting at home in front of a computer. I do not think it matters if you work in the field or not, if you read this and choose to judge him and the other heroes from Granite Mountain that is a very poor reflection on who you are as a person. Now that I have gotten that off my chest on to the review...
This is a true story, and although Brendan McDonough had a ghost writer for assistance, we need to remember this is a first novel and is not a literary masterpiece. That being said, I found the voice authentic and genuine. He did not try to make himself nor his "brothers" appear perfect, which I think led to the sincerity of the story.
I enjoyed learning his backstory and what led him into the field.... to be cont
This book is a man's story, it was what he lived, and survived. It's easy to sit back and judge everything he did or describes sitting at home in front of a computer. I do not think it matters if you work in the field or not, if you read this and choose to judge him and the other heroes from Granite Mountain that is a very poor reflection on who you are as a person. Now that I have gotten that off my chest on to the review...
This is a true story, and although Brendan McDonough had a ghost writer for assistance, we need to remember this is a first novel and is not a literary masterpiece. That being said, I found the voice authentic and genuine. He did not try to make himself nor his "brothers" appear perfect, which I think led to the sincerity of the story.
I enjoyed learning his backstory and what led him into the field.... to be cont
March 10, 2019
When my mom put "Only the Brave" movie on, she told me that she watched it 2 times already and both times she cried. When I started watching it, her warning was stuck at the back of my mind. As the movie continued, I thought to myself that maybe one person from the crew will die. Not in million years would I have thought it would end like it did.
I never heard of the Yarnell Fire before watching Only the Brave. After watching the movie, all I did (besides going to work) was watch YouTube videos and read articles about the fire, hoping it would give me an answer to why this tragedy has happened. This lasted about 2 week. My heart broke for the firefighters who have lost their lives in this fire and for people they have left behind. Majority of the firefighters were young men with their whole lives ahead of them. I just could not get my head around it.
When I found out that Brendan McDonough, the only surviving Granite Mountain hotshot, wrote a book, I knew I had to get my hands on it. I really liked to read about Brendan's life before the fire, how he changed his life around and how Eric took a chance on him despite Brendan being a former heroine addict. I especially liked reading how relationship between him and Chris progressed from enemies to best friends.
None of the boys took it easy on him at the beginning and they did everything they could to make him quit. It made me feel awful for Brendan because they made him feel very unwelcome. But he was so determined and persistent and eventually earned the respect of the people that would become his brothers.
I hoped that this book would finally answer the questions I had, the main one being "why did the Granite Mountain Hotshots leave the black?" I was hopeful that Brendan knew something that was not revealed in the movie or in the many articles I read. But unfortunately even Brendan does not know answer to this question. It appears that only the Granite Mountain Hotshots know why they left the black and we are only left to speculate.
Both the movie and the book made a big impact on me. It made me respect firefighters and hotshots a lot more. I know that accidents like these happen more often than I probably realize and I hope that they will continue to come up with ways to reduce the possibility of accidents like this happening in the future.
And I hope that one day I will find myself in the state of Arizona so I can walk the Granite Mountain Hotshots trail and also visit the Juniper Tree that the Granite Mountain Hotshots saved from burning down only one week before the tragedy.
I never heard of the Yarnell Fire before watching Only the Brave. After watching the movie, all I did (besides going to work) was watch YouTube videos and read articles about the fire, hoping it would give me an answer to why this tragedy has happened. This lasted about 2 week. My heart broke for the firefighters who have lost their lives in this fire and for people they have left behind. Majority of the firefighters were young men with their whole lives ahead of them. I just could not get my head around it.
When I found out that Brendan McDonough, the only surviving Granite Mountain hotshot, wrote a book, I knew I had to get my hands on it. I really liked to read about Brendan's life before the fire, how he changed his life around and how Eric took a chance on him despite Brendan being a former heroine addict. I especially liked reading how relationship between him and Chris progressed from enemies to best friends.
None of the boys took it easy on him at the beginning and they did everything they could to make him quit. It made me feel awful for Brendan because they made him feel very unwelcome. But he was so determined and persistent and eventually earned the respect of the people that would become his brothers.
I hoped that this book would finally answer the questions I had, the main one being "why did the Granite Mountain Hotshots leave the black?" I was hopeful that Brendan knew something that was not revealed in the movie or in the many articles I read. But unfortunately even Brendan does not know answer to this question. It appears that only the Granite Mountain Hotshots know why they left the black and we are only left to speculate.
Both the movie and the book made a big impact on me. It made me respect firefighters and hotshots a lot more. I know that accidents like these happen more often than I probably realize and I hope that they will continue to come up with ways to reduce the possibility of accidents like this happening in the future.
And I hope that one day I will find myself in the state of Arizona so I can walk the Granite Mountain Hotshots trail and also visit the Juniper Tree that the Granite Mountain Hotshots saved from burning down only one week before the tragedy.
October 7, 2017
Good read! I would have finished earlier but busy life made it hard!!! Read this so I could see the movie this month!
July 2, 2016
This book started off with multiple typos in the first few chapters, and went downhill from there. The author seems to be more or less a scumbag who is making is living now off the deaths of his co-workers. Example: He talks about how his friend Chris and he were always there for each other, and as examples says that Chris would always buy him a sandwich when he was buying one for himself, and that if the author ever needed anything, he could ask Chris for it. So, where was the part where the author did something for Chris? Oh, well, when Chris needed money, the author was broke, but very, very graciously allowed Chris to borrow money from the author's mother. What a guy! Another example: he describes in detail something he saw in the body bag of one of his "brothers" and then writes, "I quickly zipped up the bag so no one else would see it." And then you wrote about it in this book for everyone to read!!
Finally, the writing is terrible. The author's sentences are basically, "Whoa, there was a shit ton of fire!" Followed by a ghost-written sentence "Fire has increased sevenfold in the Southwest in the past five years." There were times when I doubted that the main author would even be able to understand the sentences that the ghost writer wrote.
Finally, the writing is terrible. The author's sentences are basically, "Whoa, there was a shit ton of fire!" Followed by a ghost-written sentence "Fire has increased sevenfold in the Southwest in the past five years." There were times when I doubted that the main author would even be able to understand the sentences that the ghost writer wrote.
August 21, 2022
I wish more of the actual story of the brave firemen was actually told, instead of just including it in the just two chapters at the end. It would have been interesting to hear about the lives of the firemen that were lost. Instead we get a mediocre bio about McDonough and then the last two chapters of the actual tragedy of the Granite Mountain firemen. He didn't even bother to include what the actual investigation concluded after what happened that day. I hope the money he receives in telling this story goes to the families of those who lost loved ones in the Yarnell fire.
June 7, 2019
I came across Only the Brave one day and got sucked into it. The movie moved me like none has in a while. I then had my husband watch it. I don't really remember when the Yarnell fire occurred, but I wanted to find out more about the Granite Mountain Hot Sots. I liked that this book told Bendan's story before he became a hot shot and told about his newfound brothers. Even though I knew the outcome of Yarnell, it still struck a cord same as when I watch the movie.
December 23, 2017
In 2013, nineteen hotshot firefighters were overrun as they battled a wildfire in Arizona. The twentieth member of the crew survived: he had been the lookout and had (with, it's worth noting, his crew's knowledge and blessing) and gotten out himself when his position was compromised. That survivor was McDonough.
As a book, it's so-so; it would be hard for even an accomplished writer (and yes, McDonough worked with a ghostwriter) to paint full pictures of nineteen different men, all with roughly the same job, while also detailing McDonough's story. Given the choice, I think I'd have opted for more of the former and less of the latter (which is done up as a sort of redemption story), though the balance was probably always going to be tenuous. However...McDonough does do the best job of explaining why, in his estimation, his crew did what they did (i.e., left a safe zone and ended up where they were when the fire overtook them): because a hotshot's objective isn't achieved by staying in the black, where there's no fire to fight. You can't fight a fire without a risk, and they took the risk. It didn't pay off.
In terms of understanding the overall picture of Yarnell Hill, The Fire Line is a better read, but this added some personality and context.
As a book, it's so-so; it would be hard for even an accomplished writer (and yes, McDonough worked with a ghostwriter) to paint full pictures of nineteen different men, all with roughly the same job, while also detailing McDonough's story. Given the choice, I think I'd have opted for more of the former and less of the latter (which is done up as a sort of redemption story), though the balance was probably always going to be tenuous. However...McDonough does do the best job of explaining why, in his estimation, his crew did what they did (i.e., left a safe zone and ended up where they were when the fire overtook them): because a hotshot's objective isn't achieved by staying in the black, where there's no fire to fight. You can't fight a fire without a risk, and they took the risk. It didn't pay off.
In terms of understanding the overall picture of Yarnell Hill, The Fire Line is a better read, but this added some personality and context.
March 28, 2018
I feel badly that I didn't like this more. Wildfires and firefighter safety are incredibly important topics that need to be addressed, and I was hoping to learn more about fighting wildfires, what happened to these heroes, and how it could have been prevented. But this is more about Brendan McDonough, amd his life as a miscreant turned hotshot. It barely gets into the Granite Mountain firefighters at all. Clearly McDonough is not a born writer, and his motivations for writing this are altruistic. But it simply talks too much about Brendan McDonough and not enough about firefighting, it's methods and dangers, or the brothers he lost. I had no sense of who they were, so that when the tragedy occurs, I was left wondering if McDonough even knew them that well. Which is a horrible thought to have in this situation. I blame poor editing, because there is so much more that could have been conveyed in this book, but it ends up falling short, which simply sucks.
April 3, 2022
Honest, genuine, and tragic. This book does an excellent account of paying tribute to the memory of a brotherhood that was larger than any one person or community.
Highly recommend this worthwhile account detailing the author’s challenges, redemption, and exploits as a western hot shot. Ultimately not a tale focused on loss, but one of resilience and hope. I’m thankful it was written to not only preserve the past, but also point to a better future.
Highly recommend this worthwhile account detailing the author’s challenges, redemption, and exploits as a western hot shot. Ultimately not a tale focused on loss, but one of resilience and hope. I’m thankful it was written to not only preserve the past, but also point to a better future.
August 19, 2017
Interesting, sad tragic story. Brendan could have saved a couple chapters if he had of dropped the swearing. Sadly, his story would have been even more powerful if this book had of had a good editor to clean up the language.
September 23, 2017
In the close-knit brotherhood of America’s Bravest, there is an elite few who dare to do the impossible by confronting the most menacing conflagrations imaginable. They are wildland firefighters; the tip-of-the spear when Mother Nature turns up the heat. Of the twenty-thousand wildland firefighters in the U.S. that comprise a rugged fraternity of smokejumpers and air attack crews who are the elite Special Forces of firefighting, there is also an equally determined group of men and women who are trained to go anywhere in the country to battle the most destructive wildfires. Enter the Hotshots, wildland firefighting’s equivalent of the Marines responsible for engaging wildfires head-on by digging trenches to starve a fire of its fuel and clear away brush by starting controlled backfires. Armed only with a drip torch and a Pulaski, the life of a Hotshot is not for the faint of heart nor the reckless.
In his gripping and deeply personal memoir “My Lost Brothers,” former Granite Mountain Hotshot Brandon McDonough reveals in intimate detail the trials, tribulations and the noble sacrifices one is willing to make in order to earn a spot on a gallant and eccentric team of brothers ready for anything when the Red Devil rears its ugly head in the forest, mountain ranges and countryside communities. The book starts off slow describing a turbulent and depressing life for a lost and rebellious Brandon, enduring the bitter pains of divorce and separation from his out of work mother, losing his sanity to drug addiction and almost his freedom to the scourge of drug dealing. Desperate for a reprieve from his troubled past and wanting to do right by his baby girl, Brandon enlists for a spot on the venerable Granite Mountain Hotshot crew of Prescott, Arizona.
It was here amongst the rowdy boisterous elite few that a young and inexperienced Brandon McDonough would find his true calling. This chosen career path would change his life and the lives of those he loved forever. Under the command of veteran wildland firefighter, Eric Marsh who serves as Brandon’s surrogate father, the young rookie quickly learns the ropes of being a Granite Mountain Hotshot. Unfortunately, fate has a chilling and tragic surprise in store for the young boy wonder of wildland firefighting.
On June 28th 2013, fire season stretches the wildland firefighting community to the limit with multiple wildfires wreaking havoc across California and upstate Washington. This season, Arizona is particularly at risk as the drought-plagued community of Prescott is in the line of fire. When a small brushfire on a mountain slope manifests into an inferno, Granite Mountain gets the call and mobilizes into action for the big one. Little do they know that the one fire they’ve been waiting for will be the mission of their lives and leave one young recruit with agonizing questions tempered by the loss of nineteen of his brethren and an entire nation mourning the loss of a brave few who never returned from the fire line.
I was lucky to find this book on Audible, and after listening to it, I was blown away by the poignant and brutally honest humanity of the Granite Mountain 19. Not since John Maclean’s “Fire on the Mountain” has the danger, comraderie and the courage of standing up against Nature’s fury been so eloquently chronicled. Brandon McDonough does an exemplary job paying homage to his nineteen fallen brothers-in-arms as well as highlighting the tumultuous battle of survivor’s guilt and PTSD. Before you go see “Only The Brave” this October, Granite Mountain’s Lone Survivor’s memoir “My Lost Brothers” makes for a great prequel to appreciate the valor and the sacrifice of America’s wildland firefighters.
In his gripping and deeply personal memoir “My Lost Brothers,” former Granite Mountain Hotshot Brandon McDonough reveals in intimate detail the trials, tribulations and the noble sacrifices one is willing to make in order to earn a spot on a gallant and eccentric team of brothers ready for anything when the Red Devil rears its ugly head in the forest, mountain ranges and countryside communities. The book starts off slow describing a turbulent and depressing life for a lost and rebellious Brandon, enduring the bitter pains of divorce and separation from his out of work mother, losing his sanity to drug addiction and almost his freedom to the scourge of drug dealing. Desperate for a reprieve from his troubled past and wanting to do right by his baby girl, Brandon enlists for a spot on the venerable Granite Mountain Hotshot crew of Prescott, Arizona.
It was here amongst the rowdy boisterous elite few that a young and inexperienced Brandon McDonough would find his true calling. This chosen career path would change his life and the lives of those he loved forever. Under the command of veteran wildland firefighter, Eric Marsh who serves as Brandon’s surrogate father, the young rookie quickly learns the ropes of being a Granite Mountain Hotshot. Unfortunately, fate has a chilling and tragic surprise in store for the young boy wonder of wildland firefighting.
On June 28th 2013, fire season stretches the wildland firefighting community to the limit with multiple wildfires wreaking havoc across California and upstate Washington. This season, Arizona is particularly at risk as the drought-plagued community of Prescott is in the line of fire. When a small brushfire on a mountain slope manifests into an inferno, Granite Mountain gets the call and mobilizes into action for the big one. Little do they know that the one fire they’ve been waiting for will be the mission of their lives and leave one young recruit with agonizing questions tempered by the loss of nineteen of his brethren and an entire nation mourning the loss of a brave few who never returned from the fire line.
I was lucky to find this book on Audible, and after listening to it, I was blown away by the poignant and brutally honest humanity of the Granite Mountain 19. Not since John Maclean’s “Fire on the Mountain” has the danger, comraderie and the courage of standing up against Nature’s fury been so eloquently chronicled. Brandon McDonough does an exemplary job paying homage to his nineteen fallen brothers-in-arms as well as highlighting the tumultuous battle of survivor’s guilt and PTSD. Before you go see “Only The Brave” this October, Granite Mountain’s Lone Survivor’s memoir “My Lost Brothers” makes for a great prequel to appreciate the valor and the sacrifice of America’s wildland firefighters.
January 12, 2018
I had just driven through Yarnell on my way to Prescott before receiving this book as a gift from a local resident. It was a good, conversational read, bolstered by the co-author's eye for storytelling detail. I didn't expect to learn so much about fire and the terrain in the dry mountains of Arizona.
I began to appreciate the challenges in being a wildland firefighter, including the 32-hour shifts, the intense physical demands, the lack of an OSHA-like body to guarantee their safety. In an age of climate change and enduring drought, we're going to need more firefighters like the Hotshots. This book made it clear why that may be very difficult.
I began to appreciate the challenges in being a wildland firefighter, including the 32-hour shifts, the intense physical demands, the lack of an OSHA-like body to guarantee their safety. In an age of climate change and enduring drought, we're going to need more firefighters like the Hotshots. This book made it clear why that may be very difficult.
March 23, 2019
I read this, The Fire Line, and On the Burning Edge. Of the three, I think this is the best, even though the prose is rough in places. Fire Line and On the Burning Edge go deeper into the local politics and the post-fire community dynamics, including the financial ramifications for the town and the surviving families. This is also a clear look at survivor's guilt and what it feels like to be the only one who walks away alive.
June 16, 2023
As we approach the 10 year anniversary of the Yarnell Hill fire and tragic loss of 19 firefighters, I couldn’t help but pick this book up at the Prescott Library’s book sale.
Written by the lone survivor who is also a Prescott resident, he describes his life before, during and after joining the Granite Mountain Hotshots. He pulled himself out of a dark past when someone, who’d also overcome adversity, gave him a chance.
From there the story takes wings and the last third of the book had me all over the place: tragic, emotional, moving, hopeful and taking stock of my own blessings. Most of all, it made me realize how grateful I am for those on the front lines protecting our wilderness, wildlife, homes and loved ones. Meanwhile they’re away from their loved ones in harsh conditions for extended periods of time, working unseen among the shadows, smoke and fire.
Written by the lone survivor who is also a Prescott resident, he describes his life before, during and after joining the Granite Mountain Hotshots. He pulled himself out of a dark past when someone, who’d also overcome adversity, gave him a chance.
From there the story takes wings and the last third of the book had me all over the place: tragic, emotional, moving, hopeful and taking stock of my own blessings. Most of all, it made me realize how grateful I am for those on the front lines protecting our wilderness, wildlife, homes and loved ones. Meanwhile they’re away from their loved ones in harsh conditions for extended periods of time, working unseen among the shadows, smoke and fire.
March 17, 2021
Perhaps it was because I had already seen the movie, but I found this book very easy to read and never lost interest. I think the co-author, Stephan Talty, has done an excellent job of helping Brendan communicate effectively.
There *is* quite a bit of text devoted to Brendan’s early life, but I think it really helped with the story and it didn’t slow me down.
There *is* quite a bit of text devoted to Brendan’s early life, but I think it really helped with the story and it didn’t slow me down.
December 3, 2023
An gripping read from start to finish. I wish there was a bit more of the technical aspects of wild land firefighting (diagrams or otherwise) to help me appreciate how these hotshotters did their job. The amount of passion for the camaraderie brought about by the shared experience of exposure to danger in the author’s voice is evident.
October 13, 2024
I don't remember hearing about this terrible event on the news when it happened in 2013 but I went to see the movie in theaters and read the other book about it when it came out. I honestly forgot about it for several years until a recent trip to Prescott which reminded of this story and peaked my interest again. An incredible story about everyday heroes.
November 14, 2024
This book was fantastic. It was recommended to me by one of my friends at the fire department. It’s was interesting to hear about the huge differences between structural and wildland firefighting. The tactics are so different, but the brotherhood and camaraderie are so alike. Brendan was given an opportunity to be a part of something bigger than himself and allow that experience to change him for the better. Unfortunately, he lost his entire crew in a massive wildfire and this book talks through that whole event. Brendan’s accounts of the event and his story leading up to it were inspirational. It was well worth the read.
February 18, 2018
I really enjoyed Brendan McDonough’s true story of the Yarnell fire and his “brothers” who lost their lives fighting that fire and trying to protect others. Reading thisngave me a much greater appreciation for the hotshots and what they do. Riveting and heartbreaking, I finished the book in one sitting.
February 2, 2018
Could NOT put it down!
September 5, 2018
I read this for a library book club and I am fascinated by the Yarnell Hill fire. The book is an easy read and is a good first person recounting of the tragedy.
February 24, 2019
Heartwarming read...
February 24, 2023
4.5/5. Beautiful yet devastating recount. Highly recommend (in addition to the movie, “Only the Brave”) to anyone enamored with stories of brotherhood and sacrifice
May 18, 2024
So sad almost cried
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