At least 19 U.S. firefighters have been killed battling a wildfire in central Arizona, local officials say, according to BBC News.
They died while fighting the blaze threatening the town of Yarnell, about 80 miles (130km) north-west of Phoenix.
The fire was started by lightning on Friday, June 28 and spread rapidly amid high heat, low humidity and strong winds. At least 200 homes were burned.
Arizona and other parts of the western U.S. – including California – had near-record temperatures over the weekend.
It is the highest death toll for firefighters in a single incident since 9/11.
Arizona Senator John McCain said the families of the dead firefighters were in the thoughts and prayers of all Americans. "This devastating loss is a reminder of the grave risks our firefighters take every day on our behalf in Arizona and in communities across this nation. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten," he said in a statement.
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer said it could take "days or longer" to reveal how the deaths occurred.
"It has been confirmed that 19 wildland firefighters have lost their lives on the Yarnell Hill fire Arizona," the U.S. Wildland Fire Aviation said in a statement.
The firefighters were part of a specially trained "hotshot" unit who had battled other wildfires in New Mexico and Arizona in recent weeks, officials say.
The tragedy is the worst in a wildfire since 1933, when at least 25 firemen died battling a fire in Griffith Park, Los Angeles.
