San Bernardino Fire, 1956
1 media/EXM-N-11957-003_10_thumb.jpg 2022-09-25T23:00:24-07:00 Ryan Deack 10cb09e1a309b5899cff780a9372c88503a09e4e 41365 3 plain 2022-10-24T10:13:30-07:00 Los Angeles Examiner Photographs Collection, 1920-1961, USC Digital Library 1956-09-24 Curtis Fletcher 3225f3b99ebb95ebd811595627293f68f680673eThis page is referenced by:
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San Bernardino Fire, 1956
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This photo depicts a plane traveling towards a fire in the San Bernardino mountains. The San Bernardino fire of 1956 started on Friday, September 21 after a military jet plane spiraled and crashed into the San Bernardino mountains shortly after taking off [1]. The fire spread rapidly for a total of five days and burned more than 10,000 acres, in addition to destroying more than 17 homes [2]. Firefighters had difficulty controlling this fire because of the mountain landscape. The fire grew rapidly. On the third day of burning, flames rose to approximately 300 feet high [3]. These flames caused nine firefighters to be injured, with five of them suffering extreme burns [4].
Water-bombing and chemical-dropping planes were ultimately what assisted in putting out the fire. On the fifth day of burning, The Washington Post reported that the fire was 100% contained and no longer spreading. These chemicals created a barrier around the fire that it could not travel past, making it easier for firefighters to fight the flames from the ground [5].
[1] “Planes Help Douse Fire Started by Jet Crash,” The Washington Post and Times Herald (September 26, 1956), 1. “Air Crash Causes Big Forest Fire,” South China Morning Post (September 24, 1956), 1. “Famed Mountain Resort Menaced By ‘Fire Storm’,” South China Morning Post (September 25, 1956), 1. “San Bernardino Forest Fire Rages for Fourth Day,” New York Times (September 25, 1956), 1. “Forest Fire Spreading In California,” The Austin Statesman (September 24, 1956), 2.
[2] “San Bernardino Forest Fire Rages for Fourth Day,” New York Times (September 25, 1956), 1. “Famed Mountain Resort Menaced By ‘Fire Storm’,” South China Morning Post (September 25, 1956), 1.
[3] “Forest Fire Spreading In California,” The Austin Statesman (September 24, 1956), 2.
[4] “Smoke Lifts, Planes Fight Coast Blaze: California Forest Fire Rages On,” New York Herald Tribune (September 25, 1956), 1.
[5]“Planes Help Douse Fire Started by Jet Crash,” The Washington Post and Times Herald (September 26, 1956), 1.
