Prescott is eliminating the hotshot positions previously held by the crew that died in the Yarnell Hill Fire last year.
The Prescott City Council announced plans to replace its hotshot crew with three fuel technician positions within its fire department. City Manager Craig McConnell has said those technicians will benefit public safety.
Prescott spokesperson Pete Wertheim said the decision was hard to make amid emotions surrounding the issue.
“I think there was a unanimous sentiment amongst our councilmembers and throughout the community to rebuild immediately,” Werthein said. “But when you start looking at millions of dollars in costs and all the factors that work against it, it didn’t take long before people started to understand here that it was going to be very difficult.”
Wertheim said there is a possibility hotshot positions could return in the future.