Fallen Heroes: 30 Sichuan Firefighters Killed
Yesterday (April 1st) it was reported that at least 30 firefighters died after hundreds were sent to tackle a forest blaze in remote mountains in Muli County木里县, in Liangshan Zhou 凉山自治州, Sichuan province.
The fires started on the afternoon of March 31st, and 689 firefighters were deployed to put out the blaze in high altitude forested areas.
Muli County where the fire took place
The government’s official weibo announced that initially 30 men were listed missing, with 24 men announced dead by mid-afternoon on April 1st. Within 3 hours the other 6 firefighters bodies were discovered.
The heartbreaking last WeChat post of a fallen hero
Local authorities had lost contact with 30 firefighters Sunday afternoon after a sudden change in wind direction ignited a “huge fireball”, the ministry announced in an earlier statement.
The team of firefighters before they were reported missing
Footage aired by state broadcaster CCTV showed plumes of smoke coming from the forested, mountainous region. The extreme conditions are thought to have been caused by very low levels of precipitation, and high winds.
The 30 fallen firefighters range from young men, just 19 years old with their careers ahead of them – to men in their forties with families. During this heartbreaking time for their friends and loved ones, the nation has voiced their immense gratitude for their selfless service and bravery.
In remembrance
杨达瓦（藏） 木里县林业和草原局局长 1972.08
邹平 川林五处工作人员 1976.06
捌斤（藏） 木里县雅砻江镇立尔村村民 1970.07
赵万昆 教导员 1980.12
幸更繁 通信员 1998.10
蒋飞飞 中队长 1990.01
刘代旭（满） 排 长 1996.10
程方伟 班 长 1997.01
陈益波 副班长 1998.12
赵耀东 消防员 1997.10
丁振军 消防员 1997.04
唐博英（黎） 副班长 1993.07
李灵宏 消防员 1997.11
孟兆星 消防员 1999.03
查卫光（彝） 消防员 1997.02
郭 启 消防员 1999.06
张 浩 中队长 1990.06
周 鹏 副班长 1997.07
张成朋 消防员 1999.02
赵永一 消防员 1999.12
古剑辉 消防员 1997.01
张 帅 消防员 1999.06
高继垲 班 长 1993.08
汪耀峰 副班长 1993.09
孔祥磊（彝） 消防员 1990.02
杨瑞伦（畲） 消防员 1997.07
康荣臻 消防员 1999.03
代晋凯 1995.09
徐鹏龙 消防员 2000.03
王佛军 消防员 2000.07
