A Loop Fire survivor describes the disaster

It has been 49 years and three days since 12 wildland firefighters perished on the Loop Fire, November 1, 1966. The El Cariso Hotshots were constructing fireline on the Angeles National Forest in southern California when the fire blew up below them. Rich Leak, a Captain on the crew at the time, has written a description of the disaster in which he points out factors that led to the incident as well as some lessons learned. Below is a link to his account.

LoopFireRichLeakRevised

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

5 thoughts on “A Loop Fire survivor describes the disaster”

  1. This could have as well occurred on the Yarnell Hill Fire as Gasses built in the Canyon the crew was Trapped in. The fire took out the canyon very fast and with very high Temps. I saw this on several occasions in Southern California. Under the right conditions it dose occur as part of the Burning process. Creates what we called area Ignition.

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    1. I’d wondered if that might be what was behind area ignition, just had not heard it articulated that way before. It certainly makes sense when conditions are just right that it could occur, yet the difficulty in getting that concentration of ignitable gasses in an outdoors environment would also explain why it is a rare event.

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      1. Manzineta and Chamise brush (spelling) in the south west tend to create a lot more gas due to oil content and heat. up canyon draft in a concentrated area like a canyon draw or chimney will funnel the heat and gasses actually under the smoke layer holding them down almost like an inversion that is my simple definition of the occurrence.
        It needs the right mix and location to occur and it is some what rare.

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  2. Very interesting read – thanks for sharing. I’m intrigued by his concept of the gasses rapidly combusting. It sounds much like the process of flashover or backdraft (different events, but both due to a rapid ignition of accumulated gasses) in a structure fire. I’m curious if this phenomenon has been identified or studied on other wildfires?

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