Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
A settlement has been reached in the contentious public records case that evolved out of the tragic Yarnell Fire in Arizona earlier this year.
On June 30, 2013 nineteen Granite Mountain Hotshot firefighters from the Prescott (AZ) Fire Department were killed when they were overrun by fire. In an effort to document the scene investigative photos were taken of the deceased firefighters by the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office and others. Those photos were turned over to state investigators.
Shortly after the fire various news outlets began requesting copies of the photos under the state’s public records laws. When the requests were denied, the Arizona Republic and KPNX TV filed suit demanding that the photos be released.
Yavapai County Superior Court Judge Michael Bluff held hearings on October 23, 2013 at which family members of the deceased firefighters testified that they wanted that the photos to be kept confidential and the harm that would ensure if the photos were released. Judge Bluff had scheduled additional days of testimony.
According to the Yavapai County Sheriff’ Office, the news outlets have agreed to dismiss their suit. Sheriff Scott Mascher was quoted as saying “I am pleased that the concern of the families in maintaining privacy and respect for their loved ones was successful. The Sheriff’s Office and County Attorney’s Office are grateful the media has realized the potential harm releasing these photos would cause to the families and their children.”
