Sayre Fire: Hallowed Ground For Firefighters

LAFD Blog: "Please, tell the story behind the name of El Cariso Park"

With the flames too tempting a focus, nary a reporter would ask the question. A question which when answered, would put both meaning and perspective into the Herculean effort of firefighters working the Sayre Wildland Fire.

For 'El Cariso' was not merely chosen as a nice sounding name for the 79-acre park, but rather a distinct honor bestowed upon hallowed ground to honor the memory of twelve firefighters, members of the El Cariso Hotshots. Ten would die on the mountain and two would later succumb, in a November 1, 1966 wildfire that scorched the same area of the western San Gabriel Mountains that burned this week.

"fires burned in two counties".

The Los Angeles Times headlines and newspaper photos from 1966, tell a tragic story that will always be worth sharing. Not merely because Angelenos have forgotten, but because the blaze, dubbed 'The Loop Fire', has had monumental impact on wildland fire leadership in Los Angeles, across our nation and around the globe. The lessons taught us by the El Cariso Hotshots are ingrained in every wildland firefighter you meet, and the site of their last stand remains hallowed ground.

Read the whole story, lessons learned and more at LAFD Blog