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Collection of Historical Photographs, Loop Fire

Click the image to enlarge.

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

Quarter Three Materials for the 2025-2026 Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign Now Available

Date:  April 1, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Leadership Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that Quarter Three materials for the 2025/2026 Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign are now available. This annual initiative offers all students of leadership and wildland fire management an opportunity to engage with essential leadership skills and knowledge needed to lead effectively in dynamic environments.

Quarter Three materials focus on Leadership Level 3: Leader of People (Develop Intent). Leadership Level 3 is where your values, your team, and your influence come together. Leaders of People put their teams first, build trust, and lead with authenticity. They mentor future leaders and shape decisions up and down the chain.

References:

2025/2026 NWCG Leadership Campaign - Leadership Levels

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program

Leadership Committee

WFSTAR 2026 Core Components Module Package and 2025 Fire Year in Review Now Available

Date:  March 23, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Joe Schindel

The 2026 Core Components Module Package for RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR) and the 2025 Fire Year in Review are now available on the NWCG website. The 2026 Core Components Module Package provides all content needed to deliver RT-130.

References:

2026 Core Components Module Package

2025 Fire Year in Review Module

NEW! S-490, Advanced Fire Behavior Calculations (Blended) Available Now

Date:  March 17, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Fire Behavior Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce that the new S-490, Advanced Fire Behavior Calculations (Blended), 2026 course is now available.

This training includes performance-based activities that allow students to apply the knowledge and concepts required for the Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN), Long Term Fire Analyst (LTAN), and Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 1 (RXB1) positions. It supports individuals working towards these incident qualifications.

This blended course begins with a self-paced online training (OLT) in the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP), followed by an in-person instructor-led training (ILT).

References:

S-490, Advanced Fire Calculations (Blended)

NWCG Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN) Position Page

NWCG Long Term Fire Analyst (LTAN) Position Page

NWCG Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 1 (RXB1) Position Page

2024 Paul Gleason Award Winners Announced

Date:  March 13, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Leadership Committee

The NWCG Leadership Committee is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 Paul Gleason "Lead By Example" awards. Award categories include Initiative and Innovation, Mentoring and Teamwork, Motivation and Vision, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Congratulations to the awardees:

  • Justin Baxter, National Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Operations Specialist, with the U.S. Forest Service — Initiative and Innovation
  • Kelly Woods, Director of the Wildland Firefighting Lessons Learned Center — Mentoring and Teamwork
  • Doug Booster, Instructor, ProHealth Net, Inc. — Motivation and Vision
  • Pam McDonald, Writer-Editor for the National Interagency Fire Center — Lifetime Achievement Award

References:

Paul Gleason Lead By Example Award

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program (WFLDP)

Leadership Committee