BRUSHFIRE THREATENS HOMES
Loom-Up in Heavy Brush - Photo by M. MeadowsUpon arrival Battalion 14 was assigned to the Hot Flank of the fire - designated Division Z (Zulu) by Division 3 Assistant Chief Roderick Garcia. Division 3 was designated "Encino I.C." Concurrent with their assignment as Division Z Battalion 14 was notified that a home was immediately threatened by the advancing fire on Via Vallarta.
Battalion 14 calls for Structure Protection. Photo by M. Meadows
Upon arrival to the Via Vallarta location Battalion 14 found six homes threatened by the advancing fire front. The fire was topographically driven at this point with the only wind being that created by the fire itself. With no companies at the location, Battalion 14 requested five Engines for Structure Protection with a top priority from Encino I.C.
Battalion 14 confers with Battalion 17. Photo by M. Meadows
Encino I.C., following Battalion 14s notification that structure protection on Via Vallarta and PuertoVallarta was a top priority, coordinated critical water drops near the homes with "Helco". The initial drops by air resources slowed the advancing front near the homes. It was this action that was the primary factor in saving the exposed structures.
Spectators watch as fire advances towards homes. Photo by M. Meadows
As air resources made critical drops on the rapidly advancing fire, ground resources pinched the fire on the flanks and set up for Structure Protection near homes at the top side of the fire. Companies near the Encino Reservoir used Siphon Ejectors layed down a 100' embankment to the resevoir itself to supply firefighting companies with water. With very little wind and moderate temperatures the fire none the less displayed very significant flame lengths and rapidly advanced through the dense brush. The extremely steep slope West of the reservoir was in perfect South facing alignment for pre-heating the fuels that contributed to the spread of the fire.
Heavy-Lift copter makes drop on fire front. Photo by M. Medows
The Heavy-Lift copters provided on lease to the LAFD by Erickson Sky Crane provided critical air support for fire suppression efforts at this incident. Working with smaller copters normally assigned to LAFD Air Operations the Heavy Lifts were able to deliver large amounts of water with a quick turn-around time as they refilled from the Encino Reservoir adjacent to the incident. Watching them make their drops in concert with the pin-point precision drops made by the smaller copters is truly awe-inspiring.
The combination of hard working ground resources along with the air resources is critical in a Wildland Interface fire. Without the air support in the early stages of the fire homes would have surely been damaged or lost at this incident. Ironically, this was the first day that the "Heavy-Lift" helicopters were available to our Department.
Engines in Staging for Encino Brush Fire. Photo by M. Meadows
Battalion 14 B/C Williams (Division Z) worked closely with Battalion 17 B/C Gaffney (Division P) on Structure Protection. Battalion 14 placed E 72, E 88, E 100 and RE 109 on Puerto Vallarta, Via Vallarta and Twilight Lane to protect homes. Additional resources protecting structures and providing Line Construction and Line Support included E 64, E 21, E 47, E 34 and LA County Camp Crews 13-1, 13-2, 15-2 and 8-2.
Thanks for all the hard work, your efforts are very appreciated by Battalion 14!
