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Collection of Historical Photographs, Loop Fire

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El Cariso Hot Shots 1966

El Cariso Hot Shots 1966.

El Cariso Hot Shots 1966

El Cariso Hot Shots 1966.

 
Smoke from the Loop Fire

Smoke from the Loop Fire.

Fire behavior mid slope on the Loop Fire

Fire behavior mid slope on the Loop Fire.

 
Tanker drop on the Loop Fire

Tanker drop on the Loop Fire.

Tanker drop on the Loop Fire

Tanker drop on the Loop Fire.

 
Smoke visible as Loop fire progresses downhill

Smoke visible as Loop fire progresses downhill.

Smoke visible as Loop fire progresses downhill

Smoke visible as Loop fire progresses downhill.

 
Smoke and flames visible as Loop fire continues to spread

Smoke and flames visible as Loop fire continues to spread.

Tanker drop on the Loop Fire

Tanker drop on the Loop Fire.

 
Flames visible close to neighborhood on Loop Fire

Flames visible close to neighborhood on Loop Fire.

Flames visible close to neighborhood on Loop Fire

Flames visible close to neighborhood on Loop Fire.

 
Flames visible close to neighborhood on Loop Fire

Flames visible close to neighborhood on Loop Fire.

Large smoke column as Loop Fire burns

Large smoke column as Loop Fire burns.

 
Large smoke column as Loop Fire burns

Large smoke column as Loop Fire burns.

Large smoke column as Loop Fire burns

Large smoke column as Loop Fire burns.

 
Large smoke column as Loop Fire burns

Large smoke column as Loop Fire burns.

Large smoke column as Loop Fire burns

Large smoke column as Loop Fire burns.

 
Large smoke column as Loop Fire burns

Large smoke column as Loop Fire burns.

Large smoke column as Loop Fire burns

Large smoke column as Loop Fire burns.

 
Large smoke column as Loop Fire burns

Large smoke column as Loop Fire burns.

Looking up at chimney canyon from Pacoima Canyon Road

Looking up at chimney canyon from Pacoima Canyon Road.

 
Walking in the chimney canyon where fatalities occurred

Walking in the chimney canyon where fatalities occurred.

Looking down the chimney canyon fatality site

Looking down the chimney canyon fatality site.

 
Standing in the chimney canyon fatality site

Standing in the chimney canyon fatality site.

Standing in the chimney canyon fatality site

Standing in the chimney canyon fatality site.

 
Looking down the chimney canyon

Looking down the chimney canyon.

Walking out the chimney canyon

Walking out the chimney canyon.

 
Looking south from entrapment area

Looking south from entrapment area.

Looking north from the bottom of the chimney canyon

Looking north from the bottom of the chimney canyon.

 
Looking North up the chimney canyon

Looking north from the bottom of the chimney canyon.

Terrain in the chimney canyon

Terrain in the chimney canyon.

 
Slopes in the entrapment area

Slopes in the entrapment area.

Looking down at Pacoima Canyon Road

Looking down at Pacoima Canyon Road.

 
Structure engine in neighborhood at the edge of the Loop Fire

Structure engine in neighborhood at the edge of the Loop Fire.

County crews working at the bottom of the Loop Fire.

County crews working at the bottom of the Loop Fire.

 
Helicopter and flames in the fatality area.

Helicopter and flames in the fatality area.

Investigators along the ridge

Investigators along the ridge.

 
Investigators discussing on the ridge above fatality site

Investigators discussing on the ridge above fatality site.

Looking up the chimney canyon after the fire

Looking up the chimney canyon after the fire.

 
Looking down the chimney canyon after the fire

Looking down the chimney canyon after the fire.

Markers in the fatality area during investigation

Markers in the fatality area during investigation.

 
Looking down the chimney canyon after the fire

Looking down the chimney canyon after the fire.

Looking down the ridge after the fire

Looking down the ridge after the fire.

 
View of subdivision from the top of the Loop Fire area

View of subdivision from the top of the Loop Fire area.

View of the community at the base of the Loop Fire area

View of the community at the base of the Loop Fire area.

 
Looking down at development near the base of the Loop Fire area

Looking down at development near the base of the Loop Fire area.

 

Los Angeles Times Newspaper Photos

Newspaper photo and article of three survivors separated from other crewmembers. One man breaks into tears as he recalls he couldn't help.

Newspaper photo and article of three survivors separated from other crewmembers.

Newspaper photo and three survivors sitting in chairs at Memorial Hospital.

Newspaper photo of three survivors saying, "Fire just blew up."

 
Attendants and doctors care for injured firefighters at hospital in two news photos taken the day of incident.

Attendants and doctors care for injured firefighters at hospital in two news photos taken the day of incident.

Montrose Rescue Team member holds a blackened canteen at site where 10 firemen died.

Montrose Rescue Team member holds a blackened canteen at site where 10 firemen died.

 
Ambulance attendants and nurses transfer Bob Chaurnard, injured firefighter, to ambulance to be transported to hospital.

Ambulance attendants and nurses transfer Bob Chaurnard, injured firefighter, to ambulance to be transported to Memorial Hospital.

Rescue team remove bodies of firefighters from helicopters at the end of Pacoima Canyon Road.

Rescue team remove bodies of firefighters from helicopters at the end of Pacoima Canyon Road.

 
Ambulance crew transports injured firefighter Steve Bowman on a gurney to General Hospital.

Ambulance crew transports injured firefighter Steve Bowman on a gurney to General Hospital.

Photo of flames burning heavily on a hillside behind buildings near the Olive View Sanatorium.

Photo of flames burning heavily on a hillside behind buildings near the Olive View Sanatorium.

 

NWCG Latest Announcements

Updated, NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

Date: March 11, 2025
Contact: Fire Use Subcommittee
Wildland Fire Module Unit

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430 standardizes procedures and expectations for Wildland Fire Modules (WFMs). These standards are to be used by staff, supervisors, specialists, and technicians for planning, administering, and conducting WFM operations. These standards will also be used as a measure of WFM qualifications, capabilities, and expected performance, for both Type 1 and Type 2 WFMs.

References:

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

NEW! NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514

Date: March 7, 2025
Contact: National Interagency Aviation Committee

The NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514 establishes the standards for dispatching, utilizing, and coordinating airtankers on interagency wildland fires. These standards should be used in conjunction with the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision (SAS), PMS 505, NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations (SABO), PMS 508, and any applicable agency plans.

References:

NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514

Incident Position Standards and Next Gen Position Task Books Now Available for Dispatch Incident Positions

Date: March 5, 2025
Contact: National Coordination System Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for all six Dispatch positions:

  • Aircraft Dispatcher
  • Expanded Dispatch Coordinator
  • Expanded Dispatch Recorder
  • Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher
  • Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher
  • Initial Attack Dispatcher

The Performance Support Packages for these positions, including the Expanded Dispatch Job Aid, J-601 and the Initial Attack and Aircraft Dispatcher Job Aid, J-602, were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

References:

NWCG Aircraft Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Coordinator Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Recorder Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Initial Attack Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Job Aids 

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for DMOB, DOCL, and RESL

Date: February 28, 2025
Contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Demobilization Unit Leader (DMOB), Documentation Unit Leader (DOCL), and Resources Unit Leader (RESL).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions, including a job aid for RESL, were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

References:

NWCG Demobilization Unit Leader Position Page 

NWCG Documentation Unit Leader Position Page 

NWCG Resources Unit Leader Position Page