The Republic: The Yarnell Hill Fires deadly sweep through a central Arizona community exposed a weak spot in the Wests preparedness.
The 19 who died fighting the fire Sunday were part of a well-trained national army of federal, tribal, state and local firefighters who have stamped out countless wildfires over the past century.
But as fuel for blazes has built up in ever-thickening forests and brambles across the region, spending to fortify communities with firebreaks has not kept pace and is now declining...