>> Ted: COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, WHAT LOOKS TO BE AN ILL FATED REBELLION IN RUSSIA AND THE JOAN OVERTURNING OF ROE V. WADE AND WE'LL SPEAKING WITH THE GRANITE MOUNTAIN HOTSHOTS.

THAT'S NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> Announcer: THIS HOUR IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FRIENDS OF PBS, MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION.

THANK YOU.

>> Ted: WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE FOUNDER OF THE WAGNER MERCENARY GROUP HAS DENIED THAT HE TRIED TO OVERTHROW RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN.

PRIGOZHIN MADE CERTAIN IT WAS HIS FIRST UPRISE AND SAID HE WAS ONLY TRYING TO PROTECT HIS TROOPS FOR NOT AGREEING TO SIGN CONTRACTS.

HE WAS BELIEVED TO BE IN BELARUS FOR THE LEADERSHIP OVER HANDLING OF THE COUNTRY'S INVASION OF UKRAINE.

VLADIMIR PUTIN SAID THE ARMED MUTINY PLAYED INTO THE HANDS OF ROGERS CUPRUSSIAN ENEMIES AND THEY SAID ALLIES DID NOT HAVE A HAN IN THE HAND IN THE BRIEF REBELLION.

>> WE HAD TO GIVE PUTIN NO EXCUSE, NO EXCUSE TO BLAME IN ON THE WEST OR NATO.

WE MADE CLEAR THAT WE WERE NOT INVOLVED.

WE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT AND THIS WAS PART OF THE STRUGGLE WITHIN RUSSIAN SYSTEM.

>> Ted: WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE ON THE UPRISING IN RUSSIA IN JUST A MOMENT.

>>> THE U.S. READY TO ANNOUNCE ANOTHER AID PACKAGE FOR UKRAINE AS EARLY AS TOMORROW AND THAT'S ACCORDING TO A U.S. OFFICIAL WHO SAID THE AID WILL INCLUDE $500 MILLION WORTH OF FIGHTING VEHICLES.

THE LATEST PACKAGE WOULD AUGMENT MORE THAN $39 BILLION OF U.S. HAS PROVIDED TO DEFENSE.

>>> STATE SENATE POSTPONED HEARINGS IN THE GOVERNOR HOBBS' NOMINEES FOR STATE AND THIS TAKES ABORTION PROSECUTIONS AWAY FROM COUNTY ATTORNEYS AND GIVES THAT AUTHORITY TO THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

IN A LETTER, THE SENATE ACCUSED THE GOVERNOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL OF, QUOTE, CONSPIRING TO CIRCUMVENT THIS.

>>> PARTS OF SOUTHERN AND SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA ARE UNDER HEAT WARNINGS AS MUCH OF THE COUNTRY FROM ARIZONA TO ALABAMA IS GETTING HIT WITH A HEATWAVE.

AREAS TO THE EAST ARE EXPECTED TO GET SWAMPED WITH HIGH HUMIDITY.

IN ALL, 40 MILLION PEOPLE ARE FACING ADVISORIES TODAY WITH MORE THAN 90 TEMPERATURE RECORDS SET FROM TEXAS TO THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.

>>> AS WE MENTIONED, A BRIEF REBELLION AGAINST RUSSIA'S MILITARY THAT LEAD THE UPRISING IN NEIGHBOR'S BELARUS AND WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE WAR IN UKRAINE AND THE POLITICAL FUTURE OF RUSSIA PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN?

JOINING US NOW IS BEN.

WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I WANT TO START WITH -- LET'S START WITH THIS WAGNER GROUP AND WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

>> YES.

PEOPLE REFER TO THEM AS A MILITARY COMPANY OR AS A MERCENARY GROUP AND WE LIKE TO CALL THEM A PARAMILITARY CARTEL AND PARAMILITARY BECAUSE IT SPEAKS TO HOW CLOSELY EMBEDDED WITHIN THE RUSSIA STATE AND RUSSIA'S AGENCY BACK IN 2015 AND A CARTEL BECAUSE I SPEAKS TO THE EXPENSIVE, GLOBAL BUSINESS INTEREST THAT THEY HAVE ALL ACROSS AFRICA AND BEYOND, AS WELL.

AND MORE RECENTLY, THEY'VE BEEN CRITICAL TO THE WAR EFFORT IN UKRAINE, RUSSIA'S WAR EFFORT TO INVADE AND CONQUER UKRAINE AND THE ONLY MILITARY FORCE ON THE RUSSIAN SIDE THAT HAS MADE SUBSTANTIVE GROUND.

>> Ted: DID THIS LEADER AND THIS GROUP OF MERCENARIES AND FIGHTING PERSONNEL, DID THEY ACTUALLY THINK THAT THEY COULD TOPPLE THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT?

>> ACCORDING TO THEM, THAT WAS NOT THEIR GOAL, A LOT OF DEBATE WHETHER THAT WAS TRUE AND THEIR EXPLICIT GOAL WAS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WHY THIS WAR WAS CONDUCTED SO INEPTLY AND GET THEIR HANDS ON RUSSIA'S TOP MILITARY LEADERSHIP AND THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE AND THE HEAD OF THE GENERAL STAFF.

AND WHETHER THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN WILLING TO GO A BIT FURTHER, HOW THINGS SHAKE OUT IS AN OPEN QUESTION AT THIS POINT.

>> Ted: HOW MUCH OF A THREAT WAS THIS TO VLADIMIR PUTIN?

>> A VERY SERIOUS THREAT.

CLEARLY, THEY WERE NOT PREPARED.

PRIGOZHIN CLAIMS HE HAD 30,000 MEN AND IT WAS LESS THAN THAT, LIKE 8,000.

YOU HAD ONE THAT WENT SOUTH AND IT WAS IN SHORT ORDER.

IN A MATTER OF HOURS, THEY CAPTURED A CITY OF ROUGHLY ONE MILLION.

THIS IS NOT A SMALL PLACE AND THEN HEADED TO MOSCOW AND ONE HUNDRED OR TWO HUNDRED MILES OF THE CAPITAL.

MINIMAL RESISTANCE AND THEY ENDED UP SHOOTING, I BELIEVE, SEVEN DIFFERENT AIRCRAFTS AND THAT WAS THE TOTALITY OF THE RESISTANCE THEY FACED FROM THE RUSSIAN MILL FEAR.

>> Ted: WITH THAT IN MIND, IS THERE A THREAT INSIDE RUSSIA THAT THE MILITARY IS READY TO GO AHEAD AND JOIN SOME GROUP LIKE THIS AS OPPOSED TO STAYING WITH THE GOVERNMENT?

>> YES.

SO THERE WERE RUMORS THAT PRIGOZHIN AND HIS FORCES THAT THEY, THATTHEY WENT AND CLEARLY, THAT THE CRACKS ARE BEGINNING TO SHOW IN THE RUSSIAN STATES AS A RESULT OF IT SORT OF ONGOING, GRINDING WAR EFFORT.

>> Ted: WHAT DOES THIS DO FOR PUTIN IN RUSSIA?

PRETTY LOW PROFILE UNTIL THIS IS ADDRESSED THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING AND THIS WAS FIVE MINUTES OR SO, BUT RELATIVELY LOW PROFILE.

WHERE DOES HE STAND RIGHT NOW IN RUSSIA?

>> I THINK THAT PUTIN RIGHT NOW LOOKS WEAKER AT ANY POINT IN HIS 20, 40 YEARS IN POWER AND FOR A DICTATOR LOOKING WEAK IS BEING WEAK.

YOU HAVE TO APPEAR TO BE INPEN INPENTRBLE.

AND NOTHING LIKE A MILITARY FORCE TO COME WITHIN A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES OF A CAPITAL AND SHOOT DOWN AND KILL SOMETHING LIKE 15 RUSSIA SERVICE MEN AND BASICALLY CLOSE A CRIMINAL CASE THAT WAS OPEN AFTER IT WAS OPEN.

AND AS WE STAND RIGHT NOW, SEEMINGLY LET HIM GO.

AND MOSTLY, I THINK THIS STORY HAS NOT FINISHED PLAYING OUT.

I THINK THERE'S ANOTHER SHOE TO DROP.

BUT RIGHT NOW, I WOULD SAY THAT PUTIN LOOKS EXTRAORDINARILY WEAK.

>> Ted: BEGINNING THE END FOR PUTIN ONE THINK?

>> IT COULD BE.

TED POSSIBLE.

>> Ted: POSSIBLE.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE WAR IN UKRAINE?

>> I THINK THIS COULD ONLY PLAY TO UKRAINE'S BENEFIT AND TO SEE DIVISION ON THE RUSSIAN SIDE.

SO THE WAGNER FORCES HAVE REPORTEDLY RETURNED BACK TO THEIR CAMPS IN UKRAINE.

IF THEY GO TO THE FRONTLINE AND FIGHT AGAINST RUSSIAN MILITARY, THEY'LL FIGHT ALONGSIDE MEN WHO SEE THEM AS HAVING RUSSIAN BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS.

IT'S WHETHER THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY TOGETHER AS A FIGHTING FORCE AND THEN THERE'S THIS ONGOING QUESTION WHICH SPARK ED THIS OF WHETHER WAGNER WILL BE ABLE TO BE INTEGRATED INTO THE SORT OF FORMAL COMMAND STRUCTURE OF THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE.

>> Ted: INTERESTING.

I GUESS BELARUS BROKERED THIS DEAL AND SOME THOUGHT PRIGOZHIN IS IN RUSSIA AND WHERE HE IS AT LAST REPORT AND ANY CONCERN WITH THE INCREASING IMPACT OF THIS?

>> IT DOES SEEM BELARUS IS SEEKING TO PLAY A PEACEMAKER ROLE AS IT HAS IN THE PAST.

YOU WOULD THINK BACK TO 2013, 2015, THE AGREEMENTS THAT ENDED THE INITIAL STAGE OF THIS AND IT'S POSSIBLE THAT LUKA SHENKA WILL PLAY A ROLE AND WHETHER THIS IS A LARGER SCHEME AND A LOT THAT'S MURKY.

>> Ted: I WAS WONDERING WHETHER THAT IS A STAGING GROUND AND ATTACK ON UKRAINE.

HOW DO YOU THINK THE U.S. HAS HANDLED THIS SO FAR THE PAST FEW DAYS?

>> THE U.S. IS ABOUT TO POSTURE WAIT-AND-SEE.

AS I SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS CAN ONLY PLAY TO UKRAINE'S BENEFIT, TO HAVE INTERNAL DIVISION, RUSSIANS KILLING RUSSIANS.

I THINK THE U.S. AS A SORT OF MAJOR ALLY OF UKRAINE IS WAITING TO SEE HOW THIS DEVELOPS AND I THINK THERE'S A DEGREE OF CONCERN.

REMEMBER IN THE '90S, THERE WAS CONCERN THE SOVIET UNION BROKE UP AND RUSSIA IS A NUCLEAR-OWNED STATE AND IF IT'S THIS FRAGILE, YOU CAN SEE THINGS COMPLICATED QUICKLY.

>> Ted: LAST QUESTION HERE, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU THINK ANOTHER SHOE WILL DROP AND WHAT DO WE WATCH FOR HERE?

>> WELL, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHETHER THERE ARE CRIMINAL CASES OPENED AGAINST NOT NECESSARILY PRIGOZIN BUT HIS COMMANDERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS.

EVEN IF HE MANAGES TO ESCAPE, YOU KNOW, PUTIN'S RETRIBUTION AND WE SEE HOW THIS INTEGRATION TO THE RUSSIAN MILITARY GOES AND I THINK IT'S CLEAR THAT A LARGE CORE OF THE WAGNER STRUCTURE HAS NO INTEREST IN BEING FOLDED INTO THE RUSSIAN MILITARY AND I COULD SEE THAT AS WELL.

>> Ted: BEN, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

>> Ted: UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, THE IMPACT OF THE SUPREME COURT'S OVERTURNING OF ROE V. WADE ONE YEAR LATER.

>> IT'S BEEN ONE YEAR SINCE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED ROE V. WADE AND HOW HAS THIS SHAPED A DEBATE FOR ABORTION RIGHTS IN THIS STATE.

THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD ARIZONA AND JOINS US NOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: ONE YEAR SINCE ROE V. WADE OVERTURN ADAM WHATTURNED AND WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> ARIZONA HAS BEEN GROUND ZERO FOR THE MOST COMPLEX AND CHAOTIC LEGAL BATTLES OF ACCESS OVER THE PAST YEAR AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT PLANNED PARENTHOOD ARIZONA IS STILL STANDING AND WE'RE PROVIDING ABORTION CARE TO YOUR COMMUNITIES.

>> Ted: WHERE DOES ARIZONA STAND REGARDING ABORTION RIGHTS?

>> THAT'S THE QUESTION EVERYBODY ALWAYS ASKS.

ABORTION IS LEGAL IN ARIZONA THROUGH 15 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY AND BELIEVE ME, I WAS HARD TO GET TO THIS POINT.

LAST YEAR, WE HAD A LEGAL LIMBO WHERE ABORTION WAS LEGAL, ILLEGAL AND LEGAL AGAIN.

WE WENT TO COURT AND CHALLENGED THE FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL'S ATTEMPTS TO TAKE US BACK TO THE CIVIL WAR ERA AND THANKFULLY WE WON AND THEY AFFIRMED IT'S LEGAL WHEN PROVIDED BY PHYSICIANS.

>> Ted: OK. THAT'S THE LEGAL ASPECT.

>> YES.

>> Ted: LET'S TALK TO THE PRACTICAL ASPECT, ACCESS TO ABORTION AND HOW HAS IT CHANGED OVER THE PAST YEAR.

>> ACCESS?

>> I THINK, FIRST, IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED ROE V. WADE, ACCESS TO ABORTION WAS REALLY FRAUGHT IN ARIZONA.

ROE ALLOWED FOR OVER 40 RESTRICTS ON40RESTRICTIONS TO STIGMATIZE ABORTION CARE AND KEEP PATIENTS AWAY FROM CARE.

SINCE THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION, WE HAVE SEEN A VARIETY OF ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS.

OF COURSE, THE MOVE FROM FETAL VIABILITY TO 15 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY AS THE NEW RESTRICTION ON ABORTION AND INCLUDING ALL OF THE OTHER 40 RESTRICTIONS THAT STILL REMAIN ON THE BOOKS.

WHAT THIS MEANS PRACTICALLY SPEAKING IS THAT ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO ACCESS THE HEALTHCARE THEY NEED.

AND PLANNED PARENTHOOD HAS REALLY TRIED TO STEP UP NOT JUST FOR OUR COMMUNITIES BUT FOR THE INFLUX OF PATIENTS THAT WE'RE SEEING FROM OTHER HOSTILE STATES LIKE TEXAS.

SO WE'RE SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES AND PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND, FRANKLY, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO FULLY MEET THE NEED FOR THE DEMAND IN ABORTION CARE.

>> Ted: YOU MENTIONED AN INFLUX OF PATIENTS FROM OTHER STATES AND ARE ARIZONA RESIDENTS GOING TO OTHER PLACES TO RECEIVE SERVICES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE'RE LIVING UNDER A RESTRICTIVE 15-WEEK ABORTION BAN RIGHT NOW AND PEOPLE DO NEED ABORTION CARE AFTER 15 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY.

THROUGH THE PATIENT NAVIGATION PROGRAM, WE WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACCESS ABORTION IN ARIZONA TO GET THEM TO FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENTS LIKE CALIFORNIA, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE PRACTICAL SUPPORT TO ACCESS THEIR ABORTION THERE.

>> Ted: THE GOVERNOR AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER BECAUSE THE SENATOR REACTED TO THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER WITH THEM NOT PROSECUTING AND GIVING THE AUTHORITY TO THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> SO THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A WELCOMED EXECUTIVE ORDER AND I THINK REALLY KEEPING TRUE TO THE CAMPAIGN PROMISES THAT GOVERNOR KATIE HOBBS MAY AND ALSO KRIS MAYES.

THE ADVOCATES OF ARIZONA ENDORSED THESE CANDIDATES AND WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE TRUE CHAMPIONS OF REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM AND WHAT WE KNOW TO BE TRUE IS THIS, THE COURT OF APPEALS HAS CONFIRMED THAT ABORTION IS LEGAL THROUGH 15 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY.

WITH THESE LATEST EXECUTIVE ORDERS, GOVERNOR HOBBS HAS REAFFIRMED THAT ABORTION IS LEGAL THROUGH 15 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY AND PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE ESSENTIAL CARE.

>> Ted: IS IT A CONCERN TO SAY THAT COUNTY ATTORNEYS, YOU CAN'T PROSECUTE, I'M GIVING IT TO A STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THERE COULD BE A SITUATION WHERE THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS NOT FRIENDLY TO ANY PARTS OF LAW AS THIS PARTICULAR ATTORNEY GENERAL IS.

DO YOU SEE A PRECEDENT HERE THAT MIGHT BE DANGEROUS?

>> WELL, WE WERE THANKFULLY ABLE TO WORK WITH THE HOBBS' ADMINISTRATION ON THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND SO, WE KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY TOOK INTO ACCOUNT.

THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS NOT A HYPER LOCAL PATCHWORK OF RESTRICTIONS RESTRICTIONS AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE COUNTY ATTORNEYS IN ARIZONA THAT SHOULD REMAIN, THAT POWER TO PROSECUTE SHOULD REMAIN WITHIN THE STATE'S ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

AND SO WE SUPPORT THIS DECISION AND WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT KRIS MAYES WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE CHAMPION SHE IS AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF ARIZONA.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS FUTURE COURT DECISIONS AND THE LEGAL ASPECT HERE, WHAT IS STILL OUT THERE?

THE SUPREME COURT HAS ENFORCE ANNUAL OUT THERE, DOESN'T IT?

>> YES.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET WITH ABORTION RIGHTS AND BE ACCESS IN ARIZONA.

SO WHILE THE COURT OF APPEALS AFFIRMED THE RIGHT THROUGH ABORTION THROUGH 15 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY, WE'RE WATCHING TO WAIT TOO TO SEE IF THEY TAKE THIS COURT ON.

THE COURT OF APPEALS MADE THIS CARE WHAT ABORTION LAW IS IN ARIZONA.

>> Ted: I KNOW THERE'S A FEDERAL CASE AGAINST MIFEPRISTONE AND YOU'RE WATCHING THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW THAT KEEPS US ON OUR OWN AND MEDICATION ABORTION, INCLUDING MIFEPRISTONE IS AVAILABLE IN OUR HEALTH CENTERS.

>> Ted: BRITNEY, GOOD TO SEE YOU AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: JUNE 30th MARKS TEN YEARS SINCE THE YARNELL FIRE WAS ONE OF THE DEADLIEST FIRE AND LARGEST LOSS OF FIREFIGHTER LIVES.

AND BRENDAN MCDONOUGH SHARES HIS THOUGHTS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT, AS WELL.

>> Ted: YOUR THOUGHTS, TEN YEARS.

>> A LOT OF REFLECTION TO BE HONEST.

I THINK JUST A WHIRLWIND OF EMOTIONS AND SOMETHING THAT'S BEENFOR ME ISJUST THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT I'VE RECEIVED PERSONALLY FROM THE FAMILIES, AS WELL.

AND NOT JUST PRESCOTT BUT THE WORLD-WIDE FIREFIGHTERS AND I'VE CONTINUED TO HONOR MY BROTHERS AND REMEMBER WHO THEY WERE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT DOESN'T COME WITH LOSS AND GRIEF AROUND JUST THE IMPACT THAT THEY MADE ON MY LIFE AND FAMILY'S LIVES.

THEY WERE HUSBANDS, FAMILIES, SONS, BROTHERS, COUSINS AND SO ON AND SO SO FORTH.

THE RIPPLE EFFECT HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS AND I'VE BEEN IN COUNTLESS CITIES, SPEAKING, TRAVELING AND HAVE MET SOMEONE THAT HAS KNOWN ONE OFMY OF MY BROTHERS IN SOME FORM OR FASHION.

MAYBE THEY MET THEM AND THERE HASN'T BEEN SOMEWHERE THAT THEY HAVEN'T MADE AN IMPACT IN ONE FORM OR MANNER.

LOOKING BACK, JUST WORKING THROUGH THAT GRIEF AND TRAUMA AND PTSD AND JUST TRYING TO CARRY FORD WHO FORWARD IN THE HONOR, LEGACY AND ALSO, JUST HOW THEY LOVED, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY LOVED THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR JOB AND THEIR CAREER AND JUST SO MUCH MORE THAN JUNE 30th, THAT DAY, BECAUSE THOSE MEN WERE SO MUCH MORE AND SO MUCH TO OFFER.

>> Ted: WHAT'S BEEN LEARNED OVER THE YEARS ABOUT THE FIRE?

WE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO AND THERE WERE A LOT OF.

>> Question: QUESTION MARKS AND THEY'RE STILL THERE.

>> I THINK THERE ARE STILL QUITE A FEW QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ANSWERED AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WILL BE ANSWERED, TO BE HONEST.

WHAT I DO KNOW, IT'S TAKEN A TOLL ON JUST THE THOUGHT PROCESS OF HOW FIRES ARE FOUGHT AND THE RISKS, THE SCENARIOS AND THERE'S SUCH A MOVEMENT THAT HAS HAPPENED SIMULTANEOUSLY WITHIN THE WIND CHILL COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE FEDERAL REALM FOR BETTER BENEFITS AND BETTER PAY, FOR CLASSIFICATION THAT ACTUALLY DICTATES AND JUSTIFIES THE JOB THEY'RE DOING.

MANY FIREFIGHTERS ARE CLASSIFIED AS FORESTRY TECHNICS AND DON'T HAVE A TITLE IN THEIR TITLE THAT THEY'RE EMPLOYED TO BE UNDER.

I THINK DURING THE LAST DECADE IN GENERAL, THERE'S A BIG PUSH FOR BETTER BENEFITS AND BETTER HEALTHCARE, BETTER MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND IT'S A SMALL COMMUNITY.

SOME OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE AMONGST THE HIGHEST THAT WE SEE.

SO, YOU KNOW, THROUGH COMBINATION, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON AND THERE'S A HANDFUL OF AMAZING ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE BRINGING,PUTTING IN PLACE SO MEN AND WOMEN TO DESERVE THE BENEFIT BENEFITS THAT ARE OVERDUE.

>> Ted: THE CONCERN OF LEAVING A BURNED OUT AREA AND GOING BACK INTO A CANYON WERE LIVES WERE LOST.

DO WE HAVE A BETTER INDICATION OF WHAT HAPPENED AND THE COMMUNICATION INVOLVED?

>> NO, WE DO NOT, TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST.

I THINK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS TRAGEDY, WE LOOK AT THE AT THE WEATHER AND THEN ALSO, YOU KNOW MY CREW MAKING THEIR WAY DOWN THEIR SAFETY ROUTE TO THE SAFETY ZONE AND THE DISCREPANCY AT HOW LONG WOULD THE FIRE TAKE ON THE NORTH END OF TOWN AND MY CREW BEING ON THE SOUTH END OF TOWN AND DOING IT WITH A QUARTER OF THE TIME.

I FOR KNOW FOR A LONG TIME, THEY WERE LOOKING AT THE FIRE SHELTERS AND THERE IS A LOT OF STUDIES GOING THROUGH FROM ONE OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF STORM KING AND 3M AND MASSA TO SEE IF THEY COULD CREATE A SHELTER THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO BETTER EFFICIENTLY SERVE THE MEN AND WOMEN SERVING HIGH RISK SITUATIONS IN A SHELTER FROM RECENT STUDIES.

IT SHOWS MOST OF WHAT THEY FACED WAS NOT UP TO STANDARDS FOR.

FOR SOME, IT IS AND OTHERS, IT COULD DEFINITELY IMPROVE.

>> Ted: WITH THAT IN MIND, THE TRAGEDY, HOW DOES IT CHANGE HOW WILDFIRES ARE FOUGHT?

AND I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE COMMUNICATION ASPECT BECAUSE THIS WAS A CONCERN THAT THE TEAM LEADER WHO WAS A SPECIAL MENTOR TO YOU AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS SEVEN YEARS AGO, A SPECIAL PERSON IN YOUR LIFE AND MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS DECISION.

PEOPLE WANT SOMETHING DIFFICULT AND THEY WANT THE ABILITY OF FIGHTING FIRES TO CHANGE AND THIS TO BE A CAT CATALYST FOR CHANGE.

TALK ABOUT BENEFITS, BUT STRATEGY AND SCHEMATICS AND THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

>> THAT'S A QUESTION OUT OF MY SCOPE AND IT'S BEEN OVER A DECADE AND I WOULD HATE TO TALK ON A TOPIC I COULDN'T SPEAK TO.

I KNOW AS FAR AS THE FIREFIGHTERS WHO HAVE REACHED OUT, THE RISK REWARD ASPECT HAS CHANGED AND OVERALL, LOOKING AT THE FIELD'S MITIGATION, AS MANY WOULD CHANGE CLIMATE CHANGE, AND HOW YOU DEFINE THAT, IT'S UP TO YOU AND OUR WEATHER HAS CHANGED.

YOU LOOK AT CALIFORNIA AND THE FIRES THOUGHT AND WE LOOK AT FATIGUE AND BURNOUT.

I SEE "WE," THE FIREFIGHTER COMMUNITY AND NOT MYSELF AS ONE PERSON.

BUT THERE'S MANY CHANGES COMING TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST.

IT'S JUST WHEN THEY'LL BE ENACTED AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN CANADA RIGHT NOW.

>> Ted: I HATE TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

BUT I'M GLAD YOU'RE DOING WELL AND GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: GRANITE MOUNTAIN HOTSHOTS AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

TAKE CARE.

>> Ted: YOU BET.

AND THAT IT IS FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.