Santa Monica Wildfire History: How the 1961 Bel Air-Brentwood Fire Reshaped Westside Safety

Coastal Santa Monica residents watching autumn Santa Ana winds buffet the Santa Monica Mountains share a long history with hillside fire threats just north of Wilshire Boulevard. Airborne embers ignited combustible wood-shingle roofs miles ahead of the main fire front.

The blaze ignited accidentally on the north slope of the Santa Monica Mountains near Stone Canyon.