--- product_id: 42902996 title: "Granite Mountain: The Firsthand Account of a Tragic Wildfire, Its Lone Survivor, and the Firefighters Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice" price: "R1097" currency: ZAR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/42902996-granite-mountain-the-firsthand-account-of-a-tragic-wildfire-its store_origin: ZA region: South Africa --- # Granite Mountain: The Firsthand Account of a Tragic Wildfire, Its Lone Survivor, and the Firefighters Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice **Price:** R1097 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Granite Mountain: The Firsthand Account of a Tragic Wildfire, Its Lone Survivor, and the Firefighters Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice - **How much does it cost?** R1097 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/42902996-granite-mountain-the-firsthand-account-of-a-tragic-wildfire-its) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description The true story behind the events that inspired the major motion picture Only the Brave . A "unique and bracing" ( Booklist ) first-person account by the sole survivor of Arizona's disastrous 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire, which took the lives of 19 "hotshots" -- firefighters trained specifically to battle wildfires. Brendan McDonough was on the verge of becoming a hopeless, inveterate heroin addict when he, for the sake of his young daughter, decided to turn his life around. He enlisted in the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a team of elite firefighters based in Prescott, Arizona. Their leader, Eric Marsh, was in a desperate crunch after four hotshots left the unit, and perhaps seeing a glimmer of promise in the skinny would-be recruit, he took a chance on the unlikely McDonough, and the chance paid off. Despite the crew's skepticism, and thanks in large part to Marsh's firm but loving encouragement, McDonough unlocked a latent drive and dedication, going on to successfully battle a number of blazes and eventually win the confidence of the men he came to call his brothers. Then, on June 30, 2013, while McDonough -- "Donut" as he'd been dubbed by his team--served as lookout, they confronted a freak, 3,000-degree inferno in nearby Yarnell, Arizona. The relentless firestorm ultimately trapped his hotshot brothers, tragically killing all 19 of them within minutes. Nationwide, it was the greatest loss of firefighter lives since the 9/11 attacks. Granite Mountain is a gripping memoir that traces McDonough's story of finding his way out of the dead end of drugs, finding his purpose among the Granite Mountain Hotshots, and the minute-by-minute account of the fateful day he lost the very men who had saved him. A harrowing and redemptive tale of resilience in the face of tragedy, Granite Mountain is also a powerful reminder of the heroism of the people who put themselves in harm's way to protect us every day. Review: First book I've read cover to finish. Captivating to say the least. Tremendous story. - Riveting from start to finish. Brendan McDonough carries prose that could rival some of the best action-packed movies on the big screen. Even though the reader should be aware of the coming storm that our characters will ultimately face, Mr. McDonough injects healthy amounts of humor that will bring both laughter and tears. Why You'll Love This Book: Be careful, within the first chapter I had committed to reading in one sitting. Each part of the story is the perfect length, capturing Brendan's experiences from a drifting drug addict to fighting on the frontline of some of America's largest wildfires. My Lost Brothers is easily a coming of age story. We join Brendan at 18 (although a chapter or two is dedicated towards his youth) without a real plan, recently giving birth to a daughter, and struggling with addiction. He finds belonging and learns "integrity" amongst a group of wildfire fighters known as hotshots. Tasked with controlling the fires from the frontline, hotshots are nearly always in danger as variables and changes in the elements can often transform the way a fire is behaving in mere seconds. As the reader is taken to the battlefield of one of the most powerful fires in recent memory, Brendan remains steadfast by providing text that is easily understandable and goes out of the way to breakdown technical jargon. The book is a great read for those both young and old. The reading is simple enough and it would make for a great gift for a recent graduate or someone in need of direction. Brendan dedicates a few chapters to his personal struggles with PTSD a provides an intimate account of what drove him to seek help. He does step out of the narrative at points, pleading for those that are struggling to do the same. In conclusion, My Lost Brothers is as near to being completing satisfying as a book can get. I felt that I would feel guilty if I finished it on another day, part of me feels you'll share this too. Why You Won't Love This Book: Do you not enjoy being so drawn by a book as to be forced to read it in one sitting? Review: The ultimate heroes - What a fantastic story of unforgettable courage, bravery, tragedy and redemption. So compellingly told and well-written. Highly recommended. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #66,854 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #14 in Natural Disasters (Books) #1,011 in Memoirs (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 stars 1,802 Reviews | ## Images ![Granite Mountain: The Firsthand Account of a Tragic Wildfire, Its Lone Survivor, and the Firefighters Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91kNqFjEQcL.jpg) ## Available Options This product comes in different **Media Format** options. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ First book I've read cover to finish. Captivating to say the least. Tremendous story. *by K***L on May 6, 2016* Riveting from start to finish. Brendan McDonough carries prose that could rival some of the best action-packed movies on the big screen. Even though the reader should be aware of the coming storm that our characters will ultimately face, Mr. McDonough injects healthy amounts of humor that will bring both laughter and tears. Why You'll Love This Book: Be careful, within the first chapter I had committed to reading in one sitting. Each part of the story is the perfect length, capturing Brendan's experiences from a drifting drug addict to fighting on the frontline of some of America's largest wildfires. My Lost Brothers is easily a coming of age story. We join Brendan at 18 (although a chapter or two is dedicated towards his youth) without a real plan, recently giving birth to a daughter, and struggling with addiction. He finds belonging and learns "integrity" amongst a group of wildfire fighters known as hotshots. Tasked with controlling the fires from the frontline, hotshots are nearly always in danger as variables and changes in the elements can often transform the way a fire is behaving in mere seconds. As the reader is taken to the battlefield of one of the most powerful fires in recent memory, Brendan remains steadfast by providing text that is easily understandable and goes out of the way to breakdown technical jargon. The book is a great read for those both young and old. The reading is simple enough and it would make for a great gift for a recent graduate or someone in need of direction. Brendan dedicates a few chapters to his personal struggles with PTSD a provides an intimate account of what drove him to seek help. He does step out of the narrative at points, pleading for those that are struggling to do the same. In conclusion, My Lost Brothers is as near to being completing satisfying as a book can get. I felt that I would feel guilty if I finished it on another day, part of me feels you'll share this too. Why You Won't Love This Book: Do you not enjoy being so drawn by a book as to be forced to read it in one sitting? ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The ultimate heroes *by D***E on July 14, 2026* What a fantastic story of unforgettable courage, bravery, tragedy and redemption. So compellingly told and well-written. Highly recommended. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Poignant & Gripping *by K***H on January 15, 2017* This is story I wanted to hear. Other books have been written outlining the events that led to the death of 19 men in the Yarnell Hills fire. There are also news accounts, and copies of the official reports can be found online. But in the days following the fire, I followed the story from thousands of miles away, and as much as I felt for the families and friends of the dead, I felt far more for the lone survivor. A kid still really. I watched a video of the memorial service and it hurt my heart to see him speak to the crowd. I wondered how he was coping, how would he go on? This book answers those questions and more. He is brutally honest about his life prior to joining the Granite Mountain Hotshot crew. He could easily have gone down a far darker path. But his story of survival doesn't start with the fire, it starts a few years before then. This is that story. And it's told in a manner that draws the reader in and keeps them there. I had tears streaming down my face as I read the chapter that describes the days after the tragedy, but I kept reading, though it was hard to see with those tears in my eyes. I am glad that he included information about the type of therapy that helped him finally break free. I've been through, am still going through, the same type of therapy and it's a Godsend (capital here is intentional). I will continue to pray for him as I have for almost four years. If his life is long, and I hope it is, he'll have many times when he'll need to cope with his memories. I highly recommend this book, not only to people like me who find disaster stories riveting (and instructional for me as an occupational safety professional whose job includes figuring out what causes an incident), but also for anyone who wants (needs?) to know that a bad start can be overcome, dangerous habits can be changed, and that there is life for those who are left behind when tragedy strikes. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/42902996-granite-mountain-the-firsthand-account-of-a-tragic-wildfire-its](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/42902996-granite-mountain-the-firsthand-account-of-a-tragic-wildfire-its) --- *Product available on Desertcart South Africa* *Store origin: ZA* *Last updated: 2026-10-31*