Griffith Park Fire
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Location of the forest fire in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. |
The Griffith Park Fire was a devastating forest fire on October 3, 1933 in Griffith Park , Los Angeles . Although only a relatively small area of 19.4 hectares was affected by the fire, at least 29 people died in the fire fighting. This is the worst fire department accident in California .
Causes and course of the fire
In October 1933, around 3,700 people were working in Griffith Park every day. They were paid by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation to remove bushes and create paths in the park. Most of them were day laborers who were badly affected by the Great Depression .
October 3, 1933 was an exceptionally warm and dry day. This was compounded by the rising Santa Ana winds . Around 2 p.m. smoke was seen from the local golf course and employees of the park tried to determine the cause of this. At around 2:15 p.m., the fire was located in Mineral Wells Canyon. At the time, the fire was still in the early stages, but the winds quickly led to an uncontrolled spread. Although the first workers quickly started fighting the fire, the fire could no longer be put out. This was partly due to the lack of equipment, as they only had hands and shovels at their disposal, and to their complete inexperience in fighting fires.
The fire brigade arrived at the scene at around 2:26 p.m. They found chaos as the workers appeared to be working without guidance or expertise. At this point the fire had already spread to Dam Canyon. The fire brigade tried to bring order to the chaos, but the few professional firefighters could not guide the 3,000 inexperienced helpers and fight the fire at the same time. In addition, the volunteers' motivation suffered as they were sometimes forced to fight fires by their foremen.
When the wind finally turned at 3:00 p.m., the wall of flames in Mineral Wells Canyon was moving directly towards the men. Many tried to escape the flames uphill. However, they were caught up and died on the spot. In Dam Canyon, several men were trapped in the flames and had no chance of escaping. The situation was made more difficult by several counterfires that were set in the park. They also got out of hand and included other men.
Towards evening the winds subsided and during the night the fire was finally brought under control and extinguished.
Effects
At first it was assumed that 80 people were killed and it took three weeks to identify all of the dead and determine the exact number of deaths. At least 27 people died in the park and two more in the surrounding hospitals. 150 other workers were injured. A significantly higher number of deaths were named by the International Labor Defense League and several workers. However, no evidence could be produced for this.
Especially the foremen of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation came under criticism after the incidents. They were accused of negligently sending the workers to their deaths. They were also accused of being responsible for the unprofessional counterfire. The sheer number of workers deployed was also criticized. The number meant that not all could be evacuated in time and made it impossible for the professional fire brigade to bring the situation under control.
In the Los Angeles Herald , the following obituary could be read:
“They were unemployed men working there in Griffith Park. They were laborers and clerks and executives and even ministers. In their hearts a little candle of hope had been burning again because they had a chance to earn a little money.
It was only a brush fire that they were asked to extinguish. It was the sort that skilled fireworkers know how to handle. But the men in the park weren't fire fighters. They did not know that canyons become flutes in a brush fire, or that flames travel with such deadly swiftness over grass and trees grown brittle with the summer drought.
It was work. That was all that mattered. "
“They were unemployed people who worked there at Griffith Park. They were unskilled workers, employees and directors, even ministers. There was a small flame of hope in their hearts that burned again as they were given a chance to make money.
It was just a bush fire that they should put out. It was the kind of fire experienced firefighters can handle. But the men in the park weren't firefighters. Little did they know that ravines become narrow in a bushfire, or that flames can wander over the parched grass and trees with such deadly ease.
It was work. That was all that mattered. "
The cause of the fire could not be conclusively clarified.
Commemoration
In November 1933 a tree was planted and a bronze plaque for the victims was attached to it. The badge was lost over time.
In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt donated a sculpture to commemorate the victims. This was destroyed three years later in a flood.
In 2007, a memorial tree was finally planted again by the city of Los Angeles in the presence of a survivor.
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Always Remember: "1933 10/03 CA Griffith Park" (English), accessed June 22, 2017
- ↑ Meghan Collins Sullivan: "Griffith Park Fire Stirs Visions of 1933 Destruction" , at www.npr.org on May 9, 2009, accessed on June 22, 2017
- ↑ a b c d e f g LAFD Historical Archive: "The Griffith Park Fire" , accessed on June 22, 2017
- ↑ Dana Bartholomew: "Arizona tragedy makes some recall 29 firefighters who died in 1933 Griffith Park Fire" ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as broken. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (English), from www.dailynews.com on July 1, 2013, accessed June 22, 2017
- ^ A b c Scott Harrison: "Remembering the 1933 Griffith Park fire disaster" , at www.latimes.com on May 10, 2015, accessed on June 22, 2017
