MAJOR EMERGENCY BRUSH FIRE 7/15/05
On Friday, July 15, 2005 Battalion 14 responded to a reported Brush Fire as part of a full alarm brush assignment at Sunland Bl. and the Foothill Freeway. TF 89 reported a "loom-up" while enroute to the incident. Upon arrival TF 89, LF 60 and E 74 found less than 1 acre of brush burning at the base of a steep east-facing slope.
As Battalion 12 (Bowman) arrived on scene and initiated a Unified Command with L.A. County Fire and Angeles National Forest the initial companies on scene aggressively attacked the fire with a wagon battery from E 260 and Progressive Hose Lays.
Fed by light flashy fuels mixed with intermittant heavy brush the fire raced up the steep slope. Although winds were very light spot fires were occuring. Battalion 14 was assigned to Division "Bravo" and worked with E-86 (Helispot), E-7 and E-74 on the top side of the fire. E-86 did a great job of helping to refill Fire 1, 3 and 4 for over 1 hour solid. Filling ops usually consisted of 2 copters on the pad at the same time and 86s did a great job.
Outstanding support from LAFD air resources backed by one Blackhawk from L.A. County Fire kept the fire from reaching an adjacent drainage/draw and cresting the hill at the Green Verdugo Helispot. Ground companies witnessed perfectly coordinated water drops on hot spots and spot fires that slowed the advance as they anchored out at the bottom and advanced lines to complete containment and eventual knockdown of the fire.
The fire was limited to approximately 5 acres with no exposures threatened or damaged.
One Firefighter was treated for heat-related fatigue and transported to a local hospital in good condition.
It is important to note that although this fire was not in "alignment" and there was little wind present there was very rapid fire spread and unpredictable fire behavior occured.
To our Air Ops people and our "ground pounders" who fought aggressively and were successful...We Salute You!!
