Calabasas Fire 1958
1 media/Calabasasfire1958_thumb.jpg 2022-09-26T17:23:59-07:00 Sarah Aliolli c241c5a95a1e19085bad947a963e98ee5c200f9d 41365 2 plain 2022-10-24T09:58:38-07:00 Los Angeles Examiner Photographs Collection, 1920-1961, USC Digital Library 1958-11-28 Curtis Fletcher 3225f3b99ebb95ebd811595627293f68f680673eThis page is referenced by:
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Calabasas Fire, 1958
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This photograph depicts a civilian defense worker named Curtis Dible holding the horse that he rescued from the Calabasas brush fire on November 28, 1958. The brush fire broke out during the evening, becoming dangerous after 35 mile per hour winds drove the fire over the famous Warner Ranch and into a Calabasas neighborhood with countless expensive mountain properties. The brush fire was responsible for burning nearly 4,000 acres of land, injuring two firemen, and evacuating over 20 people from ranches and homes.[1] The fire also severely threatened and charred the ranch land of many celebrities including that of comedian Bob Hope.[2] Five hundred firemen and 100 servicemen from Fort MacArthur worked to suppress the fire amidst subfreezing temperatures; however, a small home, a cabin, and a trailer house were ultimately destroyed. Luckily for the hand crew, the weather was favorable and the fire was declared under control before the strong Santa Ana winds and low humidity that were to come later that day could worsen it. [3]
As weeks passed, the County Fire Department urgently announced flash flood warnings in the Calabasas area, specifically for residents at the canyon bottoms.[4] The County Flood Control District explained that the destruction from the brush fire left mountains stripped of flood-preventing vegetation, resulting in extreme hazards. Chief Engineer H.E. Hedger stated that residents were expected to be knowledgeable about weather forecasts and responsible for immediately evacuating homes during storm periods to avoid potential life loss and tragedies.[5] Fortunately, these floods did not come to fruition.
[1] “Brush Fire Controlled: Blaze Burns Out 4,000 Acres Northwest of Los Angeles,” New York Times (November 30, 1958), 7. “Brush Fire Sears 3000 Acres, Destroys Home: Two Fighters Injured,” Los Angeles Times (November 29, 1958), 1.
[2] “Raging Fire Perils Ranch of Bob Hope,” Chicago Daily Tribune (November 29, 1958), 10.
[3] “500 Firemen Halt Blaze in Calabasas,” Los Angeles Times (November 30, 1958), 1.
[4] “Brush Fire Controlled Near LA,” The Austin American (November 30, 1958), 10.
[5] “Canyon Homes Warned on Flood Hazard,” Los Angeles Times (December 21, 1958), 5.
