The Bel Air fire or conflagration was one of the most significant fires in the history of the City of Los Angeles not only because of the number of structures destroyed but because it was followed by legislation by the City to mitigate such disasters in the future.
Frank’s story: On November 6, 1961, I was a two year Fireman working at FS 92 on Pico Blvd. in West LA. We had a beautiful 1958 Seagrave engine, shop #60013 at the time.
It was already warm that morning, with a Santa Ana wind blowing from the north east. One of those days when you knew you were going to have some action.
We were about to have our 8 a.m. lineup at the front of the apparatus floor when we looked up through the opening apparatus floor doors and saw the huge loom-up coming from the Santa Monica Mountains right in front of us. We didn’t wait for the dispatch as Captain Jack Skinner told us to suit up and respond. Engineer Gene “Hoppy” Hopkins started the rig as Vince Cortazzo, Bill Stephens, and I jumped on the tailboard for one of the most memorable shifts we ever had on the department. Fireman Jack Holman would respond and join up with us later making it a six man engine. This was the day of the Bel Air fire.
As we approached the fire we encountered the fire blowing horizontally across the road in front of us. The rig stopped and we watched from the tailboard as Capt. Skinner and Engineer Hopkins (both experienced veterans of the LAFD) discussed a plan. The plan was to drive through the fire which we did. When we got out the other side our hose had dozens of small smoldering burn holes from the embers and my dungaree pants leg was on fire. All of those fires were put out without the use of water.
The fire was moving very fast when we met the chief on the ridge and it seemed like night as the sun was covered by heavy black smoke. We were told to try to get ahead of the fire and protect structures, the majority of which had wood shingle roofs. These houses were already burning blocks at a time, sending burning wood shingles into the air, transporting them by 50 MPH winds far ahead of the main fire.
Many of the streets had no water so we used our tank, and a few times our axe and Hayward to pull burning shingles from the roofs that had just ignited. While on one of the roofs, Vince Cortazzo and I were hit by a full Borate drop from a low flying tanker. I left some of the borate residue in my black helmet as a reminder.
We traveled from block-to-block and house-to-house using the “hit and run” technique, saving many homes from total destruction. We were effective because of our experienced Captain and Engineer, and a great crew of firemen that never gave up.
Engine 92 was at the corner of Roscomare and Anzio Road. A beautiful home with a wood shake roof that had just “taken off.” The roof was ablaze. I advanced an inch and a half inch line into attic of the home, attempting to save the interior. Engineer Hopkins, who was out with the rig, noticed the roof was starting to weaken, rushed inside and told me to get out. As we made our way through the hallway to the outside, part of the roof collapsed. A big chandelier fell right between us. It was a close call, but only one of many that we and other firemen would face throughout the day and night. I have always owed Hoppy a great debt of gratitude for getting me out of the house. On a sad note, “Hoppy” Hopkins, who retired as a Captain II, passed away in his 90’s – still playing golf. He had a long and rewarding life, making a positive impact on so many fellow firefighters as a mentor and teacher.
That evening we wound up somewhere in Brentwood, south of Sunset, putting out roof fires and structures after the burning embers had landed west of the Sepulveda Pass. I certainly had my baptism by fire on that day and night. It was an experience burned into my memory.
After an article in the LA Times was written about the fire by Cecilia Rasmussen, I received a call from a man who lived in the house Engine 92 was trying to save on Roscomare. There was a picture in the article of Engine 92 in front of the house (I was inside in the attic with a hose line). The man who called was Rob Barry and he invited me to meet his family and to see the house 45 years later. I took him up on the offer and with great anticipation drove up Roscomare to the house. It was amazing! For one thing – we saved more of the house than I thought. Rob’s father had the house rebuilt with minor modifications and it looked much the same as it must have before the fire hit it. Rob’s brother and mother were there. The boys were both in school on the day of the fire. They all had unbelievable stories to tell of what they went through.
The LAFD did have a 50 year anniversary of the fire at Fire Station 71 during a major rain storm. We wanted to get Old Engine 92 over there but some of you remember what it is like to drive an open cab rig in the rain so we all just told some great stories about that day a half-century ago.
The Bel Air-Brentwood conflagration would become the worst in the City’s history and at the time ranked 5th in American history with more than 484 homes and 21 other structures destroyed within six hours. The fire perimeter was 19 miles, involving over 15,000 acres and a loss of $25 million (in 1961 dollars). Because of the rapid response by the LAFD and the LAPD, thousands of people were safely evacuated with no lives lost and a minimal number of injuries.
Changes were made to prevent future conflagrations. As a result of the fire a new brush clearance ordinance in the City was passed, but it would take years to get a non- combustible roof ordinance passed. The fire department started doubling the assignment of resources into the brush area to assist with a strong initial attack followed by the purchase of our first water dropping helicopters.
The Bel Air fire loss was superseded 47 years later by the Sayre Fire, also known as the Sylmar Fire. The November 2008 wildfire resulted in the loss of 489 residences, the “worst loss of homes due to fire” in the City’s history. The fire was first reported at 10:29 p.m. on November 14, in Sylmar. On November 20, the fire was 100% contained and had burned 11,262 acres and destroyed more than 600 structures: 480 mobile homes, nine single-family homes, 104 outbuildings and 10 commercial buildings. There were no fatalities, just minor injuries to five firefighters and one civilian.
The LAFD Historical Society has the original Engine 92, Shop # 60013, the 1958 Seagrave that “Hoppy” Hopkins drove to the fire. I took Hoppy to see his old rig and he told me a story about when he was moving the rig at the fire by himself, a hot power line fell on the front of the rig. He knew not to get out, and needing to relocate fast, he drove through the wire as it arced and sparked. He showed me the crease on the front of the rig that is still there today as a mark of the battle.
Retired Engineers Mark Howell and Tim Griffin have been working on this rig in the LAFDHS “shop” and soon you will see it in running condition with a plan to have it on display at the Harbor Fire Museum at Old Fire Station 36 in San Pedro. By the way, for a very short period of time it was first assigned to Fire Station 40 on Terminal Island in the harbor.
The LAFDHS also has one of our first helicopters (a Bell 47) under restoration by Jeff Moir, retired LAFD helicopter pilot.
On Saturdays during the month of November we will be playing “Design for Disaster” the LAFD movie about the Bel Air Fire at our Hollywood and Harbor Museums.
Bill Stephens and I are the only members of Engine 92 that day here to tell our stories. Rest in Peace Captain Jack Skinner, Engineer “Hoppy” Hopkins, Fireman Vince Cortazzo, Fireman Jack Holman.
Submitted by Frank Borden