Judge upholds retirement board's decision on fallen Hotshot

PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) - A Yavapai County Superior Court judge has upheld a retirement board's decision to grant benefits to one of the 19 firefighters killed in the June 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire.

Judge David Mackey ruled Wednesday that the family of fallen Hotshot Andrew Ashcraft is entitled to retirement benefits through the state's public safety retirement system.

Ashcraft was among 13 Granite Mountain Hotshots killed who weren't classified as permanent employees.

The Prescott Public Safety Retirement Board last May granted Ashcraft's family benefits through the Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System.

The Prescott City Council appealed the board's decision, arguing that it was based on emotion rather than facts.

Prescott City Attorney Jon Paladini says the City Council likely will decide soon whether to appeal the decision to the Arizona Court of Appeals.