On Thursday, October 23rd at 12:50 a.m. ten (10) public safety firefighting helicopters from the Los Angeles City and County Fire Departments responded to a fast moving nighttime brush fire in the Sepulveda Pass that joins the San Fernando Valley with West Los Angeles.
The fire started during gusty wind and low humidity conditions while Los Angeles remained under a Red Flag Warning signaling high brush fire danger. The nighttime helicopter fire fight saved numerous homes and allowed ground resources to contain the Sepulveda Incident to 100+ acres with no injuries reported or structures lost. The Los Angeles City Fire Department sent four Bell 412 helicopters and one Bell 206L for command and control, while the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded with three Sikorsky S-70 Firehawks and two Bell 412s to assist in the nighttime battle.
The fire did threaten numerous multi-million dollar homes in the prestigious Mountain Gate area in addition to the world famous Getty Museum and Mount Saint Mary’s College.
This latest fire comes on the heels of two devastating Los Angeles area brush fires, the Marek and Sesnon, that burned over 15,000 acres and resulted in two fatalities and the destruction of more than 50 homes.
In addition to the 17 agency owned helicopters of the Los Angeles City and County Fire Departments, County Fire has two CL-415 SuperScoopers from the Province of Quebec in Canada, and one Erickson S-64 Helitanker on contract. City Fire also has one Erickson S-64 Helitanker on contract to assist in combating the devastating wind driven Fall fires common this time of year in Southern California.
