InvestigativeMEDIA stands by its July 30 story detailing statements made by State Forestry Division Deputy Director Jerry Payne concerning leadership decisions that appear to have been made in the moments leading up to the deaths of 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshot crew.

The state Forestry Division issued a statement late Tuesday afternoon apologizing “for Mr. Payne’s inappropriate expression of opinion as fact and unfounded speculation that prejudges the ultimate conclusion” of an ongoing investigation expected to be completed in mid-September.