Collection of Historical Photographs, Loop Fire

Click the image to enlarge.

El Cariso Hot Shots 1966.

Smoke from the Loop Fire.

Fire behavior mid slope on the Loop Fire.

Tanker drop on the Loop Fire.

Smoke visible as Loop fire progresses downhill.

Smoke and flames visible as Loop fire continues to spread.

Tanker drop on the Loop Fire.

Flames visible close to neighborhood on Loop Fire.

Large smoke column as Loop Fire burns.

Looking up at chimney canyon from Pacoima Canyon Road.

Walking in the chimney canyon where fatalities occurred.

Looking down the chimney canyon fatality site.

Standing in the chimney canyon fatality site.

Looking down the chimney canyon.

Walking out the chimney canyon.

Looking south from entrapment area.

Looking north from the bottom of the chimney canyon.

Looking north from the bottom of the chimney canyon.

Terrain in the chimney canyon.

Slopes in the entrapment area.

Looking down at Pacoima Canyon Road.

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

County crews working at the bottom of the Loop Fire.

Helicopter and flames in the fatality area.

Investigators along the ridge.

Investigators discussing on the ridge above fatality site.

Looking up the chimney canyon after the fire.

Looking down the chimney canyon after the fire.

Markers in the fatality area during investigation.

Looking down the chimney canyon after the fire.

Looking down the ridge after the fire.

View of subdivision from the top 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.

Los Angeles Times Newspaper Photos

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.

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.

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.

NWCG Latest Announcements

NEW! D-110, Expanded Dispatch Recorder Course Available Now

Date: May 15, 2026
Questions?
Please contact: Dispatch Position and Curriculum Management Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce the new D-110, Expanded Dispatch Recorder (Instructor-led) course is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP). Developed through the National Coordination System Committee, this course introduces the structure and function of expanded dispatch, the qualities of an effective dispatcher, and provides hands-on experience with the Interagency Resource Ordering Capability (IROC) system.

The D-110, Expanded Dispatch Recorder course aligns with the competencies and duties outlined in the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Expanded Dispatch Recorder, PMS 350-59, and is designed for individuals with no prior experience who may be called upon to support dispatch operations.

References:

D-110, Expanded Dispatch Recorder (Instructor-Led)

Expanded Dispatch Recorder (EDRC), Position Page

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Expanded Dispatch Recorder, PMS 350-59

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

Leadership Committee IAP Flyer Now Available

Date: May 8, 2026
Questions?
Please contact: Leadership Committee

The NWCG Leadership Committee promotes and enables leadership development across the wildland fire service. The committee provides education, training opportunities, and support for leadership innovation and best practices throughout the community.

A new IAP flyer is now available on the committee website, offering an overview of the products, curriculum, and learning opportunities the Leadership Committee develops. This resource is ideal for posting in your office, sharing with new employees, or distributing through your incident management teams to engage new voices in the leadership journey and reinforce a culture of self‑reflection, development, and growth.

References:

Leadership Committee 2026 IAP Flyer

Incident Operations Subcommittee Updates the Next Generation Position Task Book for FFT1

Date: May 7, 2026
Questions?
Please contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

The NWCG Incident Operations Subcommittee (IOSC) has updated the NWCG Position Task Book for Firefighter Type 1 (Squad Boss) (FFT1), PMS 311‑14. The FFT1 Position Task Book transitioned to the Next Generation (Next Gen PTB) format in June 2025 through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort. Since then, IOSC has received feedback from the wildland fire community regarding coding for one of the tasks. Task #13 has been updated to include the option of evaluation in a simulation.

See IOSC Memorandum 26‑01: Transition Plan for Implementation of Updates to the NWCG Position Task Book for Firefighter Type 1 (Squad Boss) (FFT1), PMS 311‑14 for more information.

References:

IOSC Memorandum 26-01: Transition Plan for Implementation of Updates to the NWCG Position Task Book for Firefighter Type 1

NWCG Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss Position Page

NEW! S-212, Intermediate Faller (Online) Course Available Now

Date: April 23, 2026
Questions?
Please contact: Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce that the new S‑212, Intermediate Faller (Online), course is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP). This second course in the series provides students with the knowledge and skills required to perform the duties of an Intermediate Faller (FAL2), as described in the FAL2 Incident Position Description. This course is intended for individuals seeking to advance from Basic Faller (FAL3) to FAL2.

S‑212, Intermediate Faller is a fully online, self‑paced training program consisting of 13 units. Learners will engage with interactive, scenario‑based content designed to progressively build foundational skills and knowledge essential for the FAL2 role.

Students must be qualified as a Basic Faller (FAL3) prior to enrolling in S‑212, Intermediate Faller course.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, scheduled for January 2027.