It’s been 50 years since 12 Hotshots died in the Loop Fire. Here’s how family, survivors remember them.



SYLMAR >> Raymond Chee would wrap up a towel around his fists and play fight with his younger brother, Larry Adakai, to teach him how to protect himself at boarding school.

That desire to protect others extended throughout Chee’s life, which ended at just 23 years old on Nov. 1, 1966. Chee, of New Mexico, along with 12 El Cariso Hotshots fire crewmen, died that day in the line of duty fighting the Loop Fire in the Angeles National Forest.

“He’s always been in my memory. I’ll always honor him,” said Adakai who was 16 years old when his brother died.

Not far from where the fire took place, the Angeles National Forest and the Cleveland National Forest held a commemorative ceremony Tuesday at the El Cariso Regional Park, named after the Hotshots crew.

As two crews of the Hotshots were working on containing the Loop Fire at a narrow ravine near Sylmar, they were overtaken by flames when the winds changed direction and surprised them. Ten perished almost instantly, two more in hospital care, while the survivors endured serious burns and injuries, and had to live with the memory of seeing how their fellow crew members died.

Hundreds of local and regional fire professionals joined with a handful of the survivors from the 1966 El Cariso crew and families of the survivors and the fallen, to honor the memory of their lost brothers and family.

“The gentlemen’s names who are on that plaque are not dead,” an emotional Gordon King said, referring to the commemorative plaque of the fire in the park. “They live in my heart; they always will.”

King was the crew leader, just 32 years old at the time, and one of the survivors of the fire.

Though it was a tragic way to learn a lesson, the events of the Loop Fire 50 years ago led to many changes in safety protocols and guidance on how to engage fire conditions and terrain when fighting wildfires. The fire is still studied by fire officials. Many of the protocols implemented soon after are still used today.

“From that day to where we are today, a lot of lessons were learned,” said Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby. “For those that lost their lives, they will never be forgotten.”

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Rich Leak, captain of a second El Cariso Hotshots crew in 1966, and several other survivors have for years spoken with fire departments and crews throughout the state. They share their stories and offer up their expertise in battling wildfires.

“I share my story for the future guys coming up, they need that kind of knowledge and, I hope it saves their lives,” said Leak.

Leak said it was great to see all the firefighters and families of the victims and survivors come together for the ceremony.

“It’s important to us to have families or anyone connected to the crew here,” said Leak.

The Hotshots who died include Chee, James Moreland, 22; Michael White, 22; John Figlo, 18; William Waller, 21; Joel Hill, 19; Steven White, 18; Carl Shilcutt, 26; John Verdugo, 19; Daniel Moore, 21; Kenneth Barnhill, 19; and Frederick Danner, 18.

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