Bret Butler and team are highlighted in the High Country News article "Wildfire escape routes? There’s (almost) an app for that".
Scientists are using crowdsourced data to help firefighters flee dangerous flames.
In 2013, when a wildfire changed tack and made a run for the town of Yarnell, Arizona, 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots hiked down from the fireline to try to save a few homes. As the blaze grew closer, the men were forced to flee to their safety zone, a ranch they thought was a 15-minute hike away. But thick chaparral slowed their progress, and flames overtook them before they reached the ranch. All 19 died. see the full article