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Loop Fire Entrapment Fatalities 1966

  • Location:

    California
  • Date:

    11/01/1966
  • Incident Type:

    Entrapment
  • Description:

    The Loop Fire started on November 1, 1966 in a canyon near the boundary of the Angeles National Forest in California. The fire spread rapidly by Santa Ana winds. At 1500, the El Cariso Hotshot Crew hiked to the fire's edge to begin direct attack through handline construction and cold-trailing. At 1535 the direction of fire spread changed, and it swept up a chimney canyon, entrapping and burning over the crew. In total, 12 members of the El Cariso Hotshots perished, and 11 others were seriously burned. 

    Those El Cariso Hotshots lost on the Loop Fire were: Kenneth Barnhill, Raymond Chee, Fred Danner, John Figlo, Joel Hill, Daniel Moore, James Moreland, Carl Shilcutt, John Verdugo, William Waller, Michael White, and Stephen White.

    Fatality, Initial Attack, Hand Crews, Entrapment, Burn Injury