Next Monday marks one year since Arizona wildfires killed 19 firefighters known as the Granite Mountain Hotshots.
Swirling winds fanned the flames which suddenly surrounded and overran the crew.
Just the day before the tragedy, firefighters from the same department in Prescott, Arizona, rescued James Wren, 46, of Plainville.
Wren and his family got lost hiking, and he suffered a heatstroke. Fortunately, Wren’s wife had a cell signal and called for help.
Over the course of the last month, Wren shared his experience with kids, with state leaders, and with DEEP’s wildfire crews.
He put together a scrapbook which he sent to the fire department in Arizona.
“I have been told that they’re going to use it next week in some of their commemoration ceremonies, something for people to look through,” Wren said.