Earlier today akmk posted a diary about the tragic loss of 19 wildland firefighters in the Yarnell Hill fire in Arizona. In the comments section of that dairy there was discussion of where to send donations for those inclined to offer assistance to the survivors of those lost. While there are many organizations that may be collecting funds on behalf of the Prescott, AZ Hotshot Team I would urge those inclined to donate to consider doing so through the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) using this link.
The NFFF is chartered by Congress and is run by firefighters. When tragedy strikes a community, anywhere in the country, through the loss of a firefighter the NFFF works to assist the survivors (both family members and co-workers), organization(s), and community(ies) impacted recover from their loss. Additionally they work with the United States Fire Administration and the National Institute for Occupantional Safety and Heath to help understand what lead to the loss and what actions can be taken to prevent future losses and then disseminate those lessons learned far and wide in the fire service community.
The families of those lost will be eligible for the Public Safety Officers Benefits Programs' death benefit of $328,612. That sounds like a lot of money, and it is, but the families won't get it for months (at least) and it won't go far for those that left families behind; those families are going to need help. The NFFF has people on the ground now working with the local agency and the families to ensure that their needs are being met; a donation through the NFFF will be put to work quickly on behalf of those in need.
The Prescott community has been struck with a huge loss of life in this fire and it is going to take a great deal of assistance to help the families and the community recover from this tragedy.