Twelve years ago, 19 wildland firefighters perished while battling the Yarnell Hill Fire outside of Prescott in northern Arizona.

The big picture: It was the largest loss of life among U.S. firefighters since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

• The blaze consumed 8,300 acres and destroyed nearly 130 structures in and around Yarnell, a small town with a population of about 700 people.

More than a decade later, much of the burn scar has healed, homes have been rebuilt and memorials erected to honor the fallen firefighters — but the tragedy remains a cornerstone of Yarnell's identity and a reminder of the community's resilience.

Catch up quick: A lightning strike ignited the fire in the drought-stricken terrain on June 28, 2013.

• On June 30, a dramatic and unexpected wind shift sent the flames roaring south at a pace three times faster than had previously been recorded, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information.
• All but one of the 20 Granite Mountain Hotshots — a wildfire crew within the Prescott Fire Department — were cut off from their escape routes and engulfed by the fire.

The intrigue: Despite the significant loss of life and property, FEMA denied Arizona's request for a major disaster declaration, which would have opened federal funding for property owners with damage or destruction.

• FEMA said "the damage was not of such severity and magnitude as to be beyond the combined capabilities of the state, affected local governments and voluntary agencies."

Between the lines: The state and local governments provided some assistance, but the bulk of the recovery fell largely on the shoulders of the private sector and individual donors.

• Private donations covered the rebuilding of the 30 uninsured homes destroyed by the fire.
• The 100 Club of Arizona raised $4.6 million that was distributed to the families of the deceased firefighters, The Arizona Republic reported.
• Other charitable organizations, including the Arizona Community Foundation and Yavapai County Community Foundation, provided much of the immediate financial support for the town's recovery.

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The Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park allows visitors to trek the final path traveled by the fallen Yarnell Hill firefighters.

The big picture: The park opened in 2016 as a way to memorialize the tragedy that killed 19 wildland firefighters in northern Arizona in 2013.

• It features a seven-mile roundtrip trail with memorial placards honoring each of the victims.
• The final ¾ mile is called the "journey trail" and follows the last steps taken by the hotshot crew. It concludes at the fatality site, where their bodies were discovered, which is encircled by 19 linked gabion baskets.

Zoom in: Visitors are encouraged to leave memorial items at the tribute wall that overlooks the fatality site.

• Arizona State Parks and Trails staff periodically collects the gifted items for permanent storage. The agency maintains a catalog of all tribute items on its website

1 heartwarming thing: It's not uncommon to see firefighters — often dressed in full gear — hiking the trail as a way to honor the Yarnell 19.

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