Arizona firefighters

Vice President Joe Biden says the 19 Arizona firefighters killed in a wildfire were men of "uncommon valor" who rushed to save a town and gave their lives in the process.

When I think about those 19 brave firefighters that lost their lives on the job in Arizona, I’m reminded of all the great work our firefighters here in New Jersey and across the country do every day. I come from a family of firefighters going back to when they were called firemen.

President Obama has called Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer to receive an update on the wildfires in a forest northwest of Phoenix and express his condolences to the families of the 19 firefighters who died in the blaze and to all whose lives have been impacted by the fires.