Ainscough Fire Entrapment Fatality 1968

John Irving Worley, a heavy equipment operator for Santa Barbara County stationed at Buellton was entrapped and severely injured while operating a bulldozer on the Ainscough Fire near Los Alamos, August 17, 1968. It was reported that Worley was one of 45 men entrapped, with two others receiving burn injuries. Worley jumped from his dozer during the entrapment, and broke both legs, possibly when the uncontrolled bulldozer ran them over. He was severely burned and spent 10 days in the burn unit of Los Angeles County General Hospital until he succumbed to his injuries on August 27. During his stay at LA General a constant vigil was kept by members of LA County Fire Department. The Ainscough Fire burned a total of about 700 acres on the west side of Highway 101 north of Los Alamos.