Thanks to Robert, Battalion Chief on the LA
River RD for submitting the following history:
The
Little Tujunga Hotshot Crew (LTHS) was established in 1970 and were the
fifth of six hotshot crews established on the Angeles National Forest.
They were temporarily located at the Big Tujunga Station on the Tujunga
Ranger District while construction of a new modern hotshot facility was
being completed at the Little Tujunga Ranger Station (Little T). This
facility is currently known as the Don Biedebach Region Training
Center. In 1971 the new hotshot station was complete and the LTHS
eagerly moved in. That winter in February of 1972, the Sylmar Earthquake struck and destroyed 85% of this brand new facility. The
displaced hotshots moved back to Big Tujunga while demolition and
reconstruction was being conducted on the facility at Little T. The
station reconstruction was completed in 1973 and for a second time the
hotshots moved back to Little T and stayed there until declining fire
budgets required disbanding of the crew in 1980.
Most
of all hotshot crews select a symbol or some kind of identifying patch
to give the crew uniqueness. The Little Tujunga Hotshots selected the
Phoenix Bird rising out of flames and ashes as their trademark. The
Hotshots were originally established as a 30-person crew early on and
transitions back to a 20-person crew in 1976 as the Fire Management
realized that there was not much benefits of larger 30-person crews both
on fire assignments and with logistical needs to support larger crews.
The LTHS crew responded across the United States suppressing wildfire
but while in their home quarters were in a unique situation. The
foothills along the northeast end of the San Fernando Valley are
considered to be one of the most valuable watershed in the world in the
60’s and 70’s. More dollars were spent protecting the watershed in
this location then anywhere in the world. With a population 3-5
millions adjacent to the forest and with Fire Department Agencies like
Los Angeles County F.D. and Los Angeles City F.D., Initial Attack
resources are one of the largest in the nation, reaching several
hundred personnel. Wildfires posed a unique situation, quickly
spreading in and out of the forest boundary in this heavy urbanized
area.
