Incident Name: Elizabeth Fire, Angeles National Forest
Date: July 15, 1981
Personnel: Gilbert Lopez
Age: 43
Agency/Organization: US Forest Service
Position: Engine Foreman
Summary: Engine Foreman Gilbert Lopez and his inexperienced four-person engine crew responded to the Elizabeth Fire through a burned area, positioned the engine facing the black, and attacked one of two spot fires. As they began to attack a second spot fire, they lost direct visual contact with the fire on the other side of the ridge. The fire got worse, The crew and the foreman lost communication. All retreated. The crew escaped west toward a local volunteer fire department position, not using the same escape route to the east that the foreman and the engine took. Crew members were safe but injured, and subsequently left the fire ground unknown to Lopez. After getting to safety in the burned over area, Gilbert Lopez returned to look for his departed crew. He was overtaken by fire and died.
Maps
Near a microwave tower, along a ridge top truck trail (sketched map with report, but exact location is unclear)
Reports, Documentation, Lessons Learned
- REPORT & Communication (365 K pdf): To all fire crew supervisors from the Regional Forester Zane A Smith and Ten Standard Firefighting Orders and Their Apparent Application in Connection with the July 15 Fatality — Elizabeth Fire — Angeles National Forest
- California Death Index for his age: Gilbert Lopez
- USFS: USFS Heroes Memorial List
- USFA Memorial Database: Gilbert Lopez
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Wildlandfire.com Links:
- Wildland Firefighters’ Monuments and Memorial Sites
- They Said It: 2010/7/15: Memorial poem
July 15
Elizabeth Fire.
Gilbert Lopez falls in fear.
“Did I kill my crew?”
Instructions mistook.
“Let’s get out of here!” But where?
Abandoned? They ran.
A tunnel of fire.
Voices shouting “Safety here!”
Escape successful!
He went to find them.
Two breaths, six steps, destiny
Can he see us now?
— no name please
Media Articles and Reports.
Photos, Videos, & Tributes
Memorial Plaque ANF reads: Gilbert Lopez Memorial Grove: Engine Foreman for the US Forest Service gave his life protecting the national forest on the Elizabeth Fire, July 15, 1981. (The photo was taken in Sept 2005. If you’re the photographer, thanks, and please let us know who you are.)
Contributors to this article: John E. Hunter who worked with Gilbert’s son on Chantry Helitack (ANF) in 1982; Carol Hensen, William Pierce, John Miller, Rene Vanderhooft
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This is what Carol wrote me when she sent the pictures:
I’ve attached several photos that I took in 1979. The first two are of Gilbert – he’s on the right in the first two photos (I don’t think I have any from 1978). The 3rd photo is of Engine 3-10 out of Green Valley….this was the engine they were in when he died. I can’t believe it’s been almost 30 years. I have such fond memories of working for Gilbert and of his wife Sylvia and kids Garon, Wilbur, Marie and Becky. If I come across any more I’ll get them to you. Thanks for the work that you all are doing!!!
Take good care, Carol
I will be visiting the station tomorrow. It is hard to believe 30 years have passed. His life and death have been and inspiration to me. To quote a country song “He is a diamond no longer in the rough.”