/ Modified jul 2, 2013 8:48 a.m.

Deadly Wildfire Continues Out of Control

Blaze that killed 19 firefighters has 'high' potential for growing beyond its 8,400 acres, officials say.

The wildfire that killed 19 Prescott hotshot crew firefighters remained out of control with no containment Tuesday morning, the federal Incident Information System website reported.

The fire began Friday from a lightning strike near the town of Yarnell. On Sunday afternoon, extreme heat and high winds drove it from 800 acres to more than 2,000, and it swept over the position of 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshot crew, killing all of them. A 20th crew member survived because he was moving a vehicle at the time.

The fire also destroyed more than 200 homes and other structures in Yarnell and led to evacuation of the town and nearby Peeples Valley. The fire was burning south of Prescott and about 85 miles northwest of Phoenix.

The website description of the fire's behavior Tuesday morning said: "Uphill runs with 15-20 ft flame lengths, extreme fire behavior with wind and slope alignment. Short and mid-range spotting. Movement is north and east at 1/2 mile/hour."

The report said the potential for growth was "high." The fire wass burning in steep terrain made up of chaparral and grasses, officials said.

More than 400 firefighters were on the lines.

Meanwjile, residents of Prescott continued to mourn the fallen firefighters. A Monday memorial service drew 1,000 people.

Officials said that as far as they could determine, the crew members were positioned to fight the fire and were using all safety protocol when a sudden wind shift turned the flames on them with no chance for escape. All had deployed their heat-resistant protective gear, to no avail.

The 19 were Prescott city firefighters and ranged in age from 21 to 43.

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