1960s Timeline

Nov. 10, 1961 - A fire safety engineer, flown from Boston to the scene of major fires in the Los Angeles area, reported today that wood shingles had been a factor in the destruction. Mr. Percy Bugbee said, “Firefighters at the scene report in many instances fire spread spread so rapidly over a wood shingle roof that the home could not be saved. In contrast, fire-resistant roofing frequently gave them a chance to knock down the blaze before serious damage was done.” Mr. Bugbee

Nov. 8, 1961 - Firemen battled to keep control of two big brush fires in Los Angeles County today. The toll of homes destroyed, some of the city’s finest, had reached 456. Some homes were still threatened. All but nine of the houses destroyed were in the Bel-Air and Brentwood districts, where millionaires and movie stars reside. The nine exceptions were in Topanga Canyon. Firemen said they had saved 7,500 homes in the path of the fires, the worst in Southern California histor

Nov. 6, 1961 - Former Vice President Richard M. Nixon was working on his book, “Six Crises,” when he and a researcher noticed the flames of the disastrous Los Angeles fire near the Nixons’ rented Brentwood home. Mr. Nixon climbed on the roof and sprayed with a hose until flames crept within 200 yards and firemen ordered him to leave. He returned home later and recovered the manuscript of his book. The former Vice President said he also recovered clothes, records of his conver

Nov. 6, 1961 - The most destructive fire in Southern California history raged through the Hollywood Hills unchecked today. The blaze, fanned by high winds, destroyed at least 200 homes, fire officials said. The flames damaged and endangered hundreds of other homes, many valued above $100,000 and containing rare works of art. About 2,000 persons — including former Vice President Richard M. Nixon and motion-picture actors, actress, and executives — fled their homes. Gov. Edmund