Calabasas 1996

On October 21, 1996, at approximately 1035 hours, arcing electrical power lines located by the Ventura Freeway at Los Virgenes Road in Calabasas started a fire in dry grass. An augmented brush assignment was dispatched by the County of Los Angeles Fire Department (LAC). The first unit on scene reported a 1/4 to 1/2-acre fire burning in medium brush, uphill, with heavy winds. Rotary and fixed wing air units were used on the initial attack. The fire escaped initial containment efforts and moved to the South toward the ocean. Additional resources were requested and began to arrive in force by early afternoon. On October 22, 1996, the second day of the Calabasas Fire, ten firefighters were injured while performing structure protection. One firefighter was critically burned and the others required medical treatment for burns or smoke inhalation.