HOLLYWOOD HILLS BRUSH FIRE 8/9/05
Battalion 14 responded to a Major Emergency Brush Fire in the Hollywood Hills on Tuesday. The incident was located just East of the 2000 block of Nichols Canyon Road. First arriving units found a fuel and terrain driven fire on a steep South/West facing slope that was immediately endangering multiple structures along Nichols Canyon, Wattles Drive and Astral Drive.
Battalion 5 Commander Chris Kawai was the initial Incident Commander and set up an agressive attack with a request for 20 Engine Companies and all available Water Dropping Helicopters. Companies were rapidly deployed adjacent to threatened structures and utilized handlines to control the spread of the fire.
Eventually under the command of Deputy Chief Mario Rueda an LFD Commitment of 50 companies, 8 Command Teams, 4 Helicopters and 1 Tractor Unit combined with LA County Fire resources including Engine Companies, 2 Command Teams, 1 Helicopter and 6 Camp Crews in limiting the fire to approximately 20 acres. There were no injuries and no structures were damaged.
The Battalion 14 Command Team was assigned as the Air-Recon Officer and assisted Incident Command with the coordination of Water Drops, Aerial Reconnaissance, Incident Status and Company Placement.
A rapidly moving I-Zone (Interface) Fire in steep and inaccessible terrain is certainly a challenge. The Battalion 14 Commanders would like to salute all of the members whose quick actions and excellent tactics kept the overall damage from a potentially dangerous fire in the Hollywood Hills to a minimum.
Nice Job!
