From The News Service of Florida:
Jim Karels, the director of the Florida Forest Service, will lead an investigation into the deaths this week of 19 firefighters who were battling a massive blaze in Arizona, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said Wednesday. Karels, who has been state forester since 2008, is part of a national team that was announced by the Arizona State Forestry Division. What has become known as the Yarnell Hill Fire is the deadliest wildfire for firefighters since 1933.
“Our hearts go out to the people of Arizona, especially to the families of the 19 men who tragically lost their lives while (protecting) the lives of others,” said Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, whose department includes the forest service. “Jim Karels is a nationally recognized firefighter who will use his decades of experience to lead this team to better understand what happened and how to possibly prevent such a terrible loss in the future.”