The U. S. Forest Service in Arcadia, on
7 September 1956, requested 10 volunteers with five 2½-ton
trucks to transport fire fighters to the foothill area of La
Canada, Sunland, Tujunga and the mission was accomplished on
10 September 1956. The Forest Service again contacted the Arcadia
unit on 23 September 1956 to transport men and equipment into
the San Bernardino National Forest for the McKinley fire, which
involved over 10,500 acres of national forest. By 27 September
1956, another 10 men with five 2½-ton trucks had accomplished
the mission. During this dangerous fire period, the volunteers
from the California Army National Guard had driven over 6,364
miles through mountainous terrain.
A forest fire west of Los Angeles whipped by high winds and extremely
low humidity and comparatively high temperatures on 26 December
1956 burned an area in the vicinity of Malibu Beach and approximately
30 homes were destroyed. Again the Guard assisted the civilian
authorities and remained until the fire was under control on
31 December 1956.
Source: 1956-1958 Biennial
Report of the Adjutant General of the State of California
