Ack! Fire!

Bel Air Fire, Stone Canyon Road, 1961. Photo by Jon Woods for the Valley Times.

We are experiencing fire once again on the Westside of Los Amgeles today. This fire centers around the Getty Center Museum, west of the 405/San Diego Freeway, north of Sunset Boulevard, South of Mullholland, west of Temescal Canyon. The Santa Ana winds are blowing from the east, out to the ocean, fanning the flames. Here is current coverage of the Getty Fire. Many homes have already been lost and more people are being evacuated.

The Getty Fire, October 2019

One of the worst fires in my memory was the Bel Air fire of November, 1961.  So many homes were lost. My Aunt and Uncle owned a home in Bel Air and I remember my Uncle telling me that he was up on the roof with the home's Caretaker, both wielding garden houses to wet down the wood shingle roof and keep the sparks from igniting. It worked! Marvin and Louis save the house when so many structures all around them were damaged

LAFD, near the Bel Air Fire, 1961.
Photo by Alan Hyde for The Valley Times

Click HERE to see KTLA-TV news coverage of the 1961 Bel Air fire.

As a direct result of the Bel Air fire, the City of Los Angeles initiated a series of laws and fire safety policies which included the banning of wood shingle roofs in new construction. There were also new laws about hillside brush clearance. Thankfully, these laws stand today. 

Luckily, Larry and I live about 8 miles east of The Getty Fires. The winds are blowing to the west. I truly hope the fires are contained quickly, the wind stops and we get some much-needed rain.

Stay safe today, my Westside friends.