Thomas Fire Night Ops, Ventura County - December 2017

Night operations at the Thomas Fire last night (12/9-10/17). The fire continued to push hard toward the communities of Carpinteria and Montecito. Approximately 4,435 personnel from all over the United States have converged on southern California to help battle this massive wildfire.

Since it's origin, the Thomas Fire has consumed over 173,000 acres and destroyed over 750 structures. As of this posting the fire is 15% contained with full containment estimated to be reached on Christmas Eve. © Craig Durling / www.DurlingMedia.com

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La Tuna Brush Fire, Los Angeles - Sept. 2, 2017

A fast-moving brush fire has consumed over 5,000 acres in the hills just north of Los Angeles threatening homes in nearby communities. Hundreds of firefighters and law enforcement officers from numerous agencies have converged on the fire to battle the erratic fire behavior as well as facilitate evacuations and residential security. © Craig Durling / durlingmedia.com

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LACoFD Catalina Brush Fire Drill - April 2017

In April of 2017 I flew to Santa Catalina Island with members of the Los Angeles County Fire Department to document a large scale brush fire training drill. This was not as much an active fire drill as it was a logistics drill to train in coordinating the movement of fire crews and apparatus to the island of coast of southern California in the event of a substantial brush fire. The Los Angeles County Fire Department, along with the Avalon Fire Department, are responsible for fire suppression on the large island. Transportation to the island was provided by the LASD's Air Rescue 5 and the return trip by LACoFD (Firehawk) Copter 19. © Craig Durling

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"Deer Fire" Kern County Wildfire - July 1, 2016

July 1, 2016 - A few shots from the "Deer Fire" which started at just after 2pm and has since burned approximately 1,800 acres of wilderness near the town of Arvin in Kern County, California. The community of Bear Valley was evacuated as flames quickly approached. Numerous ground crews, fixed wing and helicopter resources continue to battle the blaze.

"San Gabriel Complex" (Fish Fire) - Duarte, CA - June 20, 2016 (VIDEO)

While en route to the "Reservoir IC" brush fire on Highway 39 in the Angeles National Forest I diverted to a new start in the nearby city of Duarte, this one threatening homes and horse stables. I got there as the first apparatus arrived and, as you can see, things were a little hairy. Making already difficult fire conditions worse, those on the fireground also had to battle 113 degree temperatures. At the time of this writing the "Fish Fire" (Fish IC) was reported to be at 3,000 acres with one LASD Deputy being transported to a local hospital with heat exhaustion. The fire has since been renamed the "San Gabriel Complex".  The cause of this fire is under investigation. © Craig Durling/DurlingMedia

"Fish IC" LACoFD Brush Fire - Duarte, CA - June 20, 2016

While en route to the "Reservoir IC" brush fire on Highway 39 in the Angeles National Forest I diverted to a new start in the nearby city of Duarte, this one threatening homes and horse stables.  Making already difficult fire conditions worse, those on the fireground also had to battle 113 degree temperatures.  At the time of this writing the "Fish Incident" (Fish IC) was reported to be at 2,000 acres with one LASD Deputy being transported to a local hospital with heat exhaustion.  The cause of this fire is under investigation.  © Craig Durling/DurlingMedia

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© Craig Durling / DurlingMedia.com

"Wheatland IC" LAFD Brush Fire - May 23, 2016

At about 2:20pm on May 23, 2016 the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a fast moving brush fire in the 11300 block of Wheatland Avenue in the Lakeview Terrance area of Los Angeles.  With the assistance of the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Angeles Forest resources the fire, seated in rough terrain, was kept to nearly 200 acres.  An arson suspect is reportedly in custody.  © Craig Durling

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An LACoFD Firehawk returns to the fire after filling up at a nearby golf course while a golfer "plays through".

"Lincoln IC" Brush Fire - LA County - August 16, 2015

A fast moving brush fire which started near Lincoln and San Gabriel in the city of Montebello, CA quickly brought resources from numerous departments including the Los Angeles County Fire Dept. The fire reached a 4th Alarm with the Montebello Fire Dept. (Verdugo) and a 3rd Alarm with the Los Angeles County Fire Dept. Numerous aircraft including two Super Scoopers were used to keep this fire from spreading any further than it did. At the time of this writing the fire has been held to just 370 acres however four firefighters have been injured and one LACoFD helicopter was forced to make a hard landing in a nearby cemetery. A transient suspected of starting the blaze is in custody.

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