Navajo Nation firefighters battle wildfires in Los Angeles

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By JOHN LOCHER
Updated 11:10 PM CST, January 17, 2025

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Firefighters from the Navajo Nation worked tirelessly through a haze of dust to cut away dirt from a narrow road at the side of a mountain struck by a landslide in Southern California, coughing and sneezing amid the backbreaking work.

It was the Navajo Scouts’ eighth straight day battling the Eaton Fire outside Los Angeles and their assignment Friday morning was two-fold: restore vehicle access to the mountain on the outskirts of Altadena and check on the fire damage to structures at the top.

The team of 23 crew members had traveled for two days to Southern California from the Navajo Scouts’ headquarters along the Arizona-New Mexico state line at Fort Defiance to join the fight against wildfires that have killed at least 27 people, destroyed more than 12,000 structures and put more than 80,000 under evacuation orders. The crew is one of several firefighting teams from Native American tribes and the Bureau of Indian Affairs battling the blazes.

The Navajo Scouts’ “initial attack” crew, which includes several elite hotshot-certified firefighters, have helped Los Angeles residents cut through landslides and mangled trees and worked to snuff out lingering “hot spot” fires.



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/navajo-scouts-firefighters-southern-california-f0e50604c9a7e6609da50775725330e9

[republianmushroom]

1. They are one of the best.

[DENVERPOPS]

6. It has long been recognized

that the indigenous Native Americans, for some reason, are superior, by far, to others in two jobs....Forest Fire Fire fighting and High Steel Work.........

Decades ago, the Federal Government had a large contingent of Native American Indians, based in SDak. or NDak. and anytime there was a large forest fire anywhere in the U.S. they flew hundreds and hundreds of them to fight the fire. They were paid pretty well, a year round salary to be on Standby year round........There were not near as many wildfires back then, and almost exclusively in the summer, with a few in the fall. I am not sure who decided to abandon that group, but someone did it.....

[electric_blue68]

12. What interesting history!

[chowder66]

2. This Los Angeleno thanks them and everyone for their help.

[2naSalit]

3. Navajo and...

Nez Perce have been known, for a long time, for their hot shot teams, jumpers and other on the ground fire fighting positions. I've been acquainted with several over the years.

[GiqueCee]

4. TRUE bi at ini...

... roughly translated as "heroes" in Navajo.

[calimary]

5. This former Angeleno is VERY grateful!!!

I still love L. A.

Even though we moved away.

[IrishBubbaLiberal]

8. Randy Newman Song we love LA

[IrishBubbaLiberal]

9. Going To California, 1975 Live Earls Court

[Skittles]

11. I have loved Jimmy over half a century

[Magoo48]

7. Another SoCal native's big respect and thank you to Navajo Nation firefighters.

[Skittles]

10. outstanding

[electric_blue68]

13. Thank you Navajo fire fighters!

I've known about their talent for high steel workings for decades, but not for fire fighting. How interesting!

I had read recently about the additional electrication on the Navajo Nation partly helped by LA/Californian electrical workers. The article mentions they (fire fighters) were returning the favor for that.