1966 Loop Fire Anniversary
When:
Friday, 1 November 2019
Where:
San Gabriel Mountains - Los Angeles County
Description:
The Angeles National Forest in Southern California is known for its steep, rocky terrain and common strong, dry downhill wind, known as Santa Ana winds. 0519 A fire is started by a faulty electric line on the Nike Missile Site, on an exposed ridge at the head of Loop Canyon. Chamise, sage and sumac are the dominant fuels, with critically low live fuel moistures. Santa Ana conditions prevail and the fire is driven downhill rapidly by 60 MPH NE winds toward an urban area at the bottom of the canyon. The temperature is 73 degrees with 15% relative humidity (RH). At 0520 A lookout reports the fire. 0536 Initial attack takes place. 0600 More crews arrive. 0830 The Fire Weather Forecaster issues a warning of Santa Ana conditions in the fire area, a high temperature of 95 and 10% RH. Firefighters are experiencing E-NE winds at 40-60 MPH. 1300 The temperature is 80 degrees and a 12% RH.
1430 The El Cariso Hotshots arrive at Contractors Point above Loop Canyon. They receive instruction to leap-frog the other crews and cold-trail down the east flank. Much of the fire’s edge is in or near a chimney canyon. Winds are decreasing but there is still considerable channeling and eddies. 1500 The El Cariso crew decides it is possible to cold-trail down the chimney and tie in with the crews working the lower edge of the fire. It is noted that there is no clean black. 1535 Only 500 feet away from tying in with cat lines at the bottom, the terrain is too steep and they decide to go indirect 50-100 feet away from the fire’s edge. They are working in an area of unburned fuel and hazardous topography and are unaware that the fire has established a hot spot at the base of the chimney below them, burning in sumac bushes and heavy litter. Their escape routes are inadequate. 1545 A flare-up occurs and the order to “reverse tool order” is immediately given to the crew.
In less than 1 minute the fire flashes through the 2,200 ft. chimney overcoming 23 firefighters. Ten firefighters were killed immediately, two died later at the hospital and 11 of 19 others received critical burn injuries. Before being brought under control, it burned 2,028 acres, 1,436 acres of National Forest land and 592 acres of privately owned land.
Source: https://www.nwcg.gov/committee/6mfs/loop-fire
For more information read HERE: http://www.coloradofirecamp.com/fire-origins/loop-fire-brief.htm
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