MALIBU, CA –The two pilots ignored their instincts and flew towards the huge plume of smoke billowing from the wildfire ravaging the hillsides. As the helicopter inched closer, the sky turned from blue to ochre – the Woolsey fire turning Castro Peak in the hills above Malibu into a blackened wasteland instead of the beautiful lookout point it’s known to be.
But they were on a mission. Amid heavy smoke, critically low fuel and dangerously close flames, two Los Angeles Fire Department pilots rescued three people and two dogs trapped on the peak. The pilot’s helmet camera captured the dramatic rescue, releasing the footage released Monday.
Air Operations pilots David Nordquist and Joel Smith had just completed a water drop on Nov. 9 when they were asked to conduct a rescue, according to LAFD’s Margaret Stewart.
“This is rapidly becoming very ugly,” Nordquist said as the chopper approached the peak. The terrain was barely visible as they brainstormed a landing plan.
“If you think it’s too smoky up there, or too dusty, it’s just not going to work,” a dispatcher said.
“We think we can do it,” Smith responded.
The pilots hovered over the peak, which is home to several communications towers, while they scanned for a landing spot. Dust and slate gray smoke swirled as they tried to maneuver their way in between several construction vehicles and work trucks parked below them.
Their fuel was at a critical level as flames flickered nearby – they were running out of time.
“This isn’t looking good,” Nordquist said.
The pilots decided to land in a dirt area surrounded by tall bushes near the towers and vehicles.
“This is not going to be pretty,” Nordquist warned as he attempted the precarious landing.
Once on the ground, Smith ran from the chopper to escort three trapped people and two dogs to safety, Stewart said. The group emerged from the grey smoke and ran toward the chopper. However, one of the dogs, which Nordquist described as an English Mastiff, dug his paws into the ground and firmly sat down, afraid to approach the helicopter.
With some coaxing, Smith and the owner were able to push the large dog into the waiting helicopter as smoke from the fire grew thicker and the flames approached the peak.
“Alright, let’s get the hell out of here,” Smith said. “That was enough excitement for me today.”
“You and me both, brother,” Nordquist responded.
In just under three minutes from landing to liftoff, the pilots carried out the rescue.
Watch the entire rescue unfold below:
Main image via Youtube screen grab
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