The Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center has published the video below featuring Gerald Smith, a survivor of the 1966 Loop Fire on the Angeles National Forest in southern California visiting the site of the tragedy. The video is very powerful. Mr. Smith reads a letter from one of the other victims that was written while he was in the hospital shortly before he passed away. Mr. Smith also talks about his 20-year struggle after the burnover, dealing with the lingering effects and the eventual positive outcome.
On November 1, 1966, the El Cariso Hotshots were trapped by flames as they worked on a steep hillside in Pacoima Canyon on the Angeles National Forest.
Ten members of the crew perished on the Loop Fire that day. Another two members succumbed from burn injuries in the following days. Most of the nineteen members who survived were critically burned and remained hospitalized for some time.
Lessons learned from the Loop Fire resulted in the checklist for downhill line construction, improved firefighting equipment, better fire behavior training, and the implementation of new firefighter safety protocols.
The El Cariso Hot Shots experienced another tragedy in 1959 when three members of the crew were entrapped and killed on the Decker Fire near Elsinore, California.
I was on the el cariso shots crew in 1968. The story of the 66 crew was beyond emphasized to us throughout our season. I was last shovel and trained to beware of observing the wind changes and safety of the crew. Reading about the loop fire these days brings a tear to my eye. Any type of group visit site memorial planned ? I would very much like to visit the site in respect.
66! My first year with the Forest Service. Was stationed in Big Bear on BDF on an Engine. Didn’t go to the Lop incident but my Captain (Foreman in those days) did. Gary Smoot got an assignment with a Sector Team (old lingo). When he returned he talked with the crew about the events and it really left an impression on an 18 year old.
Bill