On November 3, 2012, Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Director Russ Guiney, Angeles National Forest Supervisor Thomas Contreras and Cleveland National Forest Fire Chief Carlton Joseph gathered at El Cariso Park in Sylmar to Re-Dedicate the “Loop Fire Memorial.” The Memorial had to be moved to its current location to make room for the 15,000 square foot gymnasium and Community Center which was formally opened on October 27, 2012.
El Cariso Park was named in honor of the “El Cariso Hotshots,” an elite interagency firefighting crew that lost a dozen members battling the devastating “Loop Fire” in 1966. Three surviving members of the group addressed the crowd that had assembled to commemorate the event with memories of their fellow fire fighters and events of that day back in 1966.
WHAT IS A HOTSHOT CREW
In the United States, an Interagency Hotshot Crew (IHC), or simply Hotshot crew, is a Type 1 handcrew of 20 firefighters specially trained in wildfire suppression tactics. Hotshot crews are considered an elite group among wildland firefighters, due to their extensive training, high physical fitness standards, and ability to undertake difficult, dangerous, and stressful assignments. They often respond to large, high-priority fires and are trained and equipped to work in remote areas for extended periods of time with little logistical support.
As an interagency resource, Hotshot crews can be requested to respond to wildland fire incidents in any jurisdiction. As of 2009, there are 107 IHCs in operation in the United States, organized by diverse agencies such as the United States Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, as well as state, county, and city governments. The National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho coordinates Hotshot crews on the national level.
While not fighting fires, Hotshot crews typically work in their home units to meet resource goals such as thinning, prescribed fire operations, habitat improvement, and trail construction projects. Hotshot crews can also respond to other emergency incidents, including search and rescue and disaster response.
Due to all of the new additions and changes to El Cariso Park, Parks Bureau personnel from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will be providing additional security. Parks Bureau is responsible for policing 177 county parks, golf courses and special event venues throughout Los Angeles County.
