On August 8, 1959 the El Cariso Hot Shots experienced the first of two fire tragedies the crew would be involved in. The fire was the Decker Fire located in the foothills above Lake Elsinore, California. Seven people were overrun by fire and six lost their lives. Three were members of the El Cariso Hotshot Crew.
In 1966 12 members of the crew were killed when they were entrapped on the Loop Fire.
For more info:
http://www.wildfirelessons.net/documents/Decker_Fire_1959.pdf
