Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Watch LAFD Pilots Rescue 3 People And 2 Dogs As The Woolsey Fire Closes In
A LAFD helicopter made a daring mountaintop rescue during the Woolsey Fire on Nov. 9, 2018. (LAFD Photo by David Nordquist)
()
By Ryan Fonseca and Emily Dugdale
There was no shortage of heroics happening during the Woolsey Fire. One of them was a dramatic air rescue of three people and two dogs who were trapped on a mountain as flames and smoke closed in.
On Nov. 9, Los Angeles Fire Department Air Operations pilots David Nordquist and Joel Smith were in the middle of water-dropping operations when they were called on to save civilians and their pets from Castro Peak in the hills above Malibu.
The helicopter's fuel supply was dwindling and there was no chance of a hoist operation, according to LAFD spokeswoman Margaret Stewart. So, the pilots made an "incredibly complex" landing in thick smoke on a narrow strip of burning ridgeline.
Support for LAist comes from
Nordquist's helmet-worn camera captured the rescue, as Smith jumped out and ran toward the fast-moving flames to help the people and dogs get into the helicopter safely.
"I kind of snapped my fingers, pointed at Dave, and said, 'God Speed, I'm out of here.' And I went running up the hill," Smith said.
You can watch the rescue below (main action starts at 3:20).
The landing looks and sounds pretty scary to the average person, but both pilots said their years of training helped them keep their cool in the moment.
"We're not nervous, we're not scared to put the helicopter in a tight spot. Every time we go out training, we go land on a ridgeline," Smith said.
"What you saw on display in that video is nothing more than our training put into action," Nordquist said. "So there wasn't a whole lot of thinking about it."
Support for LAist comes from
Nordquist said in a dangerous situation like this, it's not every man for himself -- it's a team effort.
Joel Smith, left, and David Nordquist, right. (Photo by Emily Dugdale/LAist)
()
"Their professionalism, technical expertise and complete dedication to their mission was directly responsible for saving the lives of three people and two dogs," Stewart said.
The Woolsey Fire has burned nearly 97,000 acres and is linked to the deaths of three people. The blaze destroyed about 1,500 structures and was roughly 96 percent contained as of Tuesday morning, according to Cal Fire.
This story was updated on Wednesday, Nov. 21, to include quotes from Joel Smith and David Nordquist.
Hey, thanks. You read the entire story. And we love you for that. Here at LAist, our goal is to cover the stories that matter to you, not advertisers. We don't have paywalls, but we do have payments (aka bills). So if you love independent, local journalism, join us. Let's make the world a better place, together. Donate now.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist