Official: 19 firefighters die battling US fire

Hot winds blew a US wildfire out of control, killing 19 elite firefighters in the country's deadliest wildfire involving firefighters for at least 30 years.

The specially trained "hotshot" firefighters were forced to deploy their fire shelters -- tent-like structures meant to shield them from flames and heat -- when they were caught near an Arizona town, state forestry spokesman Art Morrison told The Associated Press. (AP)