Sean Misner at his wedding Via Facebook.
Sean Misner, 26, was among the crew of 19 firefighters who died on Sunday battling the Yarnell Hill Fire. The group, known as the Granite Mountain Hotshots, were an elite group of firefighters trained to attack forest fires head-on to prevent their spread.
Misner was born and raised in Santa Ynez, California, and graduated from Santa Ynez Valley Union High School in 2005.
Here is what you need to know about this fallen Hotshot:
1. His Wife is Pregnant
Misner leaves behind his wife, Amanda, and the couple were expecting their first child, a son named Jaxon. She was reportedly seven months pregnant.
2. The Misner Family Has Set Up a Charity Fund
According to the Sean Misner Memorial Facebook page, a Sean Misner Memorial Fund has been created to provide money for Misner's wife and unborn son Jaxon.
3. He Just Joined the Hotshots in April
(Facebook)
According an article from Southern California, near Misner's hometown, he was new to the Hotshots crew. He joined the elite gang of firefighters in April 2013.
4. He Comes From a Long Line of Firefighters
Like many of the men of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, Misner comes from a long line of firefighters. Misner reportedly grew up exposed to the job and its legacy through his great-grandfather, grandfather, uncles and cousin.
5. Only the Most Elite Can Be on a Hotshot Crew
A California Hotshot crew works their way into the wilderness. (Wikipedia)
The Hotshots are like the Navy SEALs of firefighters. Inter-agency Hotshot Crews are groups that specialize in going into fire areas on foot and removing things from their paths that will help prevent the spread and growth of the fire.
The role of the Hotshot is described as:
The name was in reference to being in the hottest part of fires. Their specialty is wildfire suppression, but they are sometimes assigned other jobs, including search and rescue and disaster response assistance. Hotshots not busy fighting fire will also work to meet resource goals on their home units through thinning, prescribed fire implementation, habitat improvement or trail construction projects.
Crews often need to hike many miles to get to the areas where they will be working, carry all of their supplies on their back, and often work over 12 hours a day.
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