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Andrew Ashcraft, 29
Andrew Ashcraft loved working as a Hotshot, but he struggled with having to spend so much time away from his wife and four children, ages 1, 2, 4 and 6. It was his third season on the team, and after being named the Granite Mountain Hotshots rookie of the year in 2011, he was in a leadership position.
“There is this constant tug and pull of loving his family and loving what he does,” said his wife, Juliann.
When Mr. Ashcraft was away fighting fires, he would text his wife, asking her about the family’s trip to the swimming pool that day, and always telling them he loved them. And when he was home, he devoted himself completely to his children, attending his son Ryder’s T-ball games and joking around the house.
Ms. Ashcraft said she and her husband played an ongoing game of trying to lock each other out of their home. When she would lock him out, he had to do a dance for her before she would let him back inside. “His go-to dance was spelling his name with his butt in the air,” she said. “He was a jokester. He just made everything fun.”
On Saturday evening, he returned home from two weeks fighting another fire, arriving just in time to tuck the children into bed. The next morning at 5:20, he kissed his wife goodbye and headed back to the station.
“He wanted to finish out this season strong, and then think about when he might change to a profession that’s a little more family-friendly,” Ms. Ashcraft said. — IAN LOVETTping other customers.
“We told him he had to stay until further notice,” said Jim Marnell, a co-owner of the gun store. “He was knowledgeable, friendly, personable.”
Mr. Norris had long been a customer; he was a gun enthusiast and used to go to the shooting range. After that day, he continued to work at the gun shop, a job Mr. Marnell said he enjoyed.
Mr. Marnell called him an “exceptional young man” who would be missed, both in the store and in the town. The store’s doors were locked the day after the fire, partly in his honor and partly because no one felt up to opening. But customers still came by to offer their condolences.
“Customers loved him,” Mr. Marnell said. — RAY RIVERA AND IAN LOVETT
just like his father.
“Their relationship was like best friends,” Mr. Mora said. “His dad loved him with all his heart and shared everything with him. He was extremely proud of his son — proud that his son wanted to follow in his footsteps.” — DAN FROSCH
Andrew Ashcraft loved working as a Hotshot, but he struggled with having to spend so much time away from his wife and four children, ages 1, 2, 4 and 6. It was his third season on the team, and after being named the Granite Mountain Hotshots rookie of the year in 2011, he was in a leadership position.
“There is this constant tug and pull of loving his family and loving what he does,” said his wife, Juliann.
When Mr. Ashcraft was away fighting fires, he would text his wife, asking her about the family’s trip to the swimming pool that day, and always telling them he loved them. And when he was home, he devoted himself completely to his children, attending his son Ryder’s T-ball games and joking around the house.
Ms. Ashcraft said she and her husband played an ongoing game of trying to lock each other out of their home. When she would lock him out, he had to do a dance for her before she would let him back inside. “His go-to dance was spelling his name with his butt in the air,” she said. “He was a jokester. He just made everything fun.”
On Saturday evening, he returned home from two weeks fighting another fire, arriving just in time to tuck the children into bed. The next morning at 5:20, he kissed his wife goodbye and headed back to the station.
“He wanted to finish out this season strong, and then think about when he might change to a profession that’s a little more family-friendly,” Ms. Ashcraft said. — IAN LOVETTping other customers.
“We told him he had to stay until further notice,” said Jim Marnell, a co-owner of the gun store. “He was knowledgeable, friendly, personable.”
Mr. Norris had long been a customer; he was a gun enthusiast and used to go to the shooting range. After that day, he continued to work at the gun shop, a job Mr. Marnell said he enjoyed.
Mr. Marnell called him an “exceptional young man” who would be missed, both in the store and in the town. The store’s doors were locked the day after the fire, partly in his honor and partly because no one felt up to opening. But customers still came by to offer their condolences.
“Customers loved him,” Mr. Marnell said. — RAY RIVERA AND IAN LOVETT
just like his father.
“Their relationship was like best friends,” Mr. Mora said. “His dad loved him with all his heart and shared everything with him. He was extremely proud of his son — proud that his son wanted to follow in his footsteps.” — DAN FROSCH