Diksha Sundriyal
In ‘Only the Brave,’ a group of firefighters takes on the task of fighting raging forest fires and stopping them in their tracks to save entire towns from being burned down. While the entire team is at the focus of the movie, the spotlight falls on the leader, Eric Marsh (Josh Brolin). He not only pushes his team to excel at their job, but he is also the one who navigates the difficulties in front of them and brings them out of danger. However, on June 30, 2013, the odds did not favor Marsh and his team, leading to a tragic end to their stories.
Eric Marsh Met His Demise While Fighting a Deadly Fire
On June 28, 2013, a wildfire was ignited on the lands of the Bureau of Land Management near Yarnell, Arizona. The cause was found to be dry lightning, and the long-term drought with temperatures soaring to 101°F were considered primary reasons for the rapid spread of the wildfire. The winds made the path even more unpredictable, starting several small fires. The Granite Mountain Hotshots were dispatched to contain the fire and prevent it from causing further damage. The crew stuck to the tried and tested method of cutting off the fire’s path by burning a patch of land. However, the winds suddenly changed direction, causing the fire to behave erratically and alter its path. This led the team to get trapped between the walls of fire.
With the unpredictable nature of the elements, the team was unable to control the situation, and they eventually used fire shelters while transmitting their updates on the radio. However, the fire only got worse, and the heat was too intense for anyone to survive, leading to the deaths of all 19 firefighters, including Eric Marsh. The true series of events remains unknown, including the mystery of why the team left a safe area, staying where they could have saved their lives. The answer remains elusive even with two separate investigations on the matter. The investigators have attempted to understand the chain of events by analyzing the radio transmissions between team members during the fire. A few videos and testimonials were disclosed during the process. According to reports, Marsh had separated from the team when he decided to scout the fire.
Meanwhile, his deputy, Jesse Steed, was in charge of the team. At one point, Marsh found a ranch compound after descending from a ridge. Later, he joined the team, shortly after which they were trapped between walls of fire and were forced to resort to fire shelters. A year or so later, an alleged account by Brendan McDonough was brought to light. Prescott City Attorney Jon Paladini claimed that McDonough told Darrell Willis, former chief of wildland fire, that in an alleged radio call between Marsh and Steed, the former had ordered the team to be brought out of their safe zone and join him. According to the alleged account, Steed initially refused to follow the order, but eventually relented. While Paladini brought this account of events to the public, neither McDonough nor Willis has confirmed the accuracy of his version. This leaves several questions about the fire unanswered.
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Eric is Remembered Fondly by His Family, Friends and Community
While there may be questions surrounding his death, one thing that is not in doubt is that Eric Marsh was a loving and caring son and husband, a responsible leader, and a loyal friend. According to his friends and family, he considered his crew members to be part of his family and always looked out for them, whether professionally or personally. Born and raised in North Carolina, Eric graduated from Ashe Central High School and then studied biology at Appalachian State. His interest in firefighting became his calling, and he spent several years working with the Globe Hotshots at the Tonto National Forest. In 2003, he joined the Prescott Fire Department’s Wildland Division. He advocated for creating his own Hotshot crew and eventually succeeded in the task, earning the title of being the first municipal crew to become a Hotshot unit.
Eric believed that firefighters were different. He called them “positive people” who “take a lot of pride in being friendly and working together.” Despite the dangers of the job and the fact that it kept them away from their families for an extended period of time, he called firefighting “the most fulfilling thing” he’d ever done, and said that this sentiment was shared by others like him. Eric also played a central role in the creation of the Arizona Wildfire Academy, where he taught basic firefighting and leadership skills, transforming “boys into men.” He was also known for his mellow manner of speaking, his calm demeanor under any circumstances, and his quotes, which came to be known as “Eric-isms.” Apart from firefighting, he was also into rock climbing, ice climbing, horse riding, and skiing.
Eric was also a fisherman and a motorcyclist. He harbored a passion for mountain biking, having competed in mountain bike races that tested his endurance. A man of many talents, he excelled as a tile setter, stone mason, and welder/fabricator. Following his passing, his wife, Amanda, established the Eric Marsh Foundation, which provides financial aid and other forms of support to the families of firefighters in emergencies, such as injury or death. Amanda created it to honor her husband’s legacy. He and his team are also remembered by the memorial wall erected in the town in their memory. Meanwhile, Ashe County, where Eric grew up, declared June 30 as Eric Marsh Day to show their love and respect for him. The town and community continue to show their love and respect for Eric and his work in various ways.
