Primary Filming Location in Arizona
The majority of the movie was filmed in and around Prescott, Arizona. The city and surrounding national forests stood in for the Granite Mountain Hotshots’ home base and surrounding terrain. Local crews and landmarks helped recreate the look of the actual firefighting community.
Additional California and Studio Locations
Several scenes were also shot in California to capture different environments. Production used studio facilities and nearby areas to film interior sequences and controlled fire scenes. These locations provided the necessary infrastructure for large-scale wildfire sequences.
How the Filming Locations Reflect the True Story
The production chose sites that closely matched the real geography of the 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire. Filming in Arizona allowed the cast and crew to work in terrain similar to where the actual Granite Mountain Hotshots operated. The settings help ground the film in the real events it portrays.
For more details on the production, you can visit the official Only the Brave page on IMDb.
