All the firefighters died yesterday while fighting to contain the Yarnell Hill wildfire, north of Phoenix, after the blaze destroyed the town forcing people to flee. According to the officials, an estimated 500 homes have been ravaged by the ongoing fire that started Friday and is now spread over an area of 2,000 acres amid high temperatures, low humidity and windy conditions. Residents of Yarnell Hill and Peeples Valley were being evacuated due to the blaze that is believed to have been started by lightning, officials said on a fire alert website.u00a0

Arizona State Forestry Division spokesman, Mike Reichling, said that an estimated two hundred firefighters are now battling the flames. Federal authorities are expected to arrive with additional force to help tackle the disaster. Reichling expects 400 people to join the battle against the deadly blaze, which will also involve numerous water carrying aircrafts.