The widow of one of the 19 elite firefighters killed in a raging blaze in Arizona has said the sole survivor of the hotshots crew "deserves to have a good life".
It comes as fire crews made some progress as they tried to contain the dangerous and unpredictable wildfire, which is among dozens burning across the western US.
The blaze turned deadly on Sunday when the specially trained outfit called the Granite Mountain Hotshots were suddenly engulfed by wind-whipped flames in a matter of seconds.
The only survivor was Brendan McDonough, 21, who was on a hilltop as a lookout and warned his crew the weather was changing rapidly.
He told his colleagues the fire had changed directions because of strong, erratic winds and was heading straight for them.
Juliann Ashcraft pictured with Andrew Ashcraft Mr McDonough made it to safety, but the rest were overwhelmed by the blaze.
Juliann Ashcraft, the widow of 29-year-old Andrew Ashcraft, said of Mr McDonough: "I hope he knows we love him and losing one more would not have been what we wanted.
"We are so grateful he made it home.
"The first time I saw him after the fire, I gave him a big hug and he still smelt like the fire - the same way my husband would smell when he'd come home."
Mrs Ashcraft said Brendan McDonough was 'a great guy' Speaking to NBC, she also said Mr McDonough: "He's a great guy and I'm so glad that his outcome was different. He deserves to have a good life with his daughter."
Prescott fire department spokesman Wade Ward said of the survivor: "He did exactly what he was supposed to.
"He's trying to deal with the same things that we're all trying to deal with, but you can understand how that's compounded (by having been) there on the scene."
The hotshot crew were killed in the fire As well as Mr Ashcraft, the other victims were Kevin Woyjeck, 21, Anthony Rose, 23, Eric Marsh, 43, Christopher MacKenzie, 30, Robert Caldwell, 23, Clayton Whitted , 28, Scott Norris, 28, Dustin Deford, 24, Sean Misner, 26, Garret Zuppiger, 27, Travis Carter, 31, Grant McKee, 21, TravisTurbyfill, 27, Jesse Steed, 36, Wade Parker, 22, Joe Thurston, 32, William Warneke, 25, John Percin, 24.
Mr McDonough attended a vigil in Prescott for the dead on Tuesday evening, but did not wish to speak to the media.
Thousands of mourners were at the memorial at a high-school football stadium.
It was the first opportunity for many in the community to gather together since the men fighting the fire in nearby Yarnell died in the line of duty.
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