50th Anniversary of the Bel Air Fire (video)

Post date: Nov 10, 2011 5:7:19 PM

On November 6 & 7th 1961, Los Angeles experienced one of the most dramatic and destructive fires in Southland history. Hundreds of homes burned to the ground in Bel Air. The disaster provided lessons in future fire prevention. Much of today's current fire code came about as a result of this event. In 1962 The Los Angeles City Fire Department made a 26 minute documentary, called "Design For Disaster" about the fire (with excellent "detective" style narration by William Conrad). You can view it on YouTube here. Although dated, the film provides very good information about fire behaviour, embers, and what happens to unprotected homes.