A Monument to One of America's Worst Firefighting Disasters - Inaja Memorial Park
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- Опубликовано: 21 сен 2024
- A few miles from Julian, CA is a little known park and monument dedicated to one of the worst firefighting disasters in American history. On November 26, 1956, 11 firefighters were killed in a riverbed fighting the Inaja Fire. The tragedy makes the Inaja Fire the ninth deadliest forest fire for firefighters in U.S. history.
A year later the Inaja Memorial Park was created in the Cleveland National Forest, overlooking the valley where the firefighters lost their lives. The park has a monument to the firefighters, a picnic area, restrooms, and one hiking trail with stunning views of the source of the San Diego River and the town of Santa Ysabel (and Dudley's Bakery).
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As a retired firefighter, thank you for honoring our fallen brothers 🚒
Thank you for putting yourself at risk to help others!
@@SidetrackAdventures thanks for your kind words. If you haven't already check out the Engine 57 memorial in Riverside County sometime. There's a roadside memorial but the actual house they perished at has become a memorial site. You are correct the 10 standing firefighting orders are still taught today 🙏
My father took our family to the dedication of the monument. I was 5 and still remember the trip.
I've been to Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial on Yarnell hill in AZ. It's about a 2.5 mile hike back to fatality site with plaques along the way about each firefighter. If you're not in tears when you leave, then you're not human.
So sad I pass this memorial once a month on my way to an RV park & not stop to read the brass plaque or pay my respects to the 11 fallen firefighters. So easy to see & turn off the highway, no excuse.
Thanks Mr. Sidetrack for this video and all the others you make. 👨🚒🚒 🙏😔🌲🌲🌳
Thank you for watching. We appreciate it.
Steve I 5:05 really like your content in your videos. I grew up in San Diego County, was a S&R Deputy Sheriff working the east county (Jacumba, Dose Cabezas) and supplementing the Border Patrol in Chula Vista Station at the tender age of 20. Thanks for your videos.
I was out here the other weekend with my dad a retired wildland firefighter
I was a CDC firefighter in Puerta la Cruz in north San Diego County in 1984 and I wasn't aware of this. My name is Bicycle Bob and I approved this message.
Fun fact, the disk you zoom in on at 2:27 is a registered benchmark for survey use. It is a known elevation and can be used for establishing elevation for any survey work in the area. Most bridges have one installed in the concrete toward the end of a railing or wing wall.
What a beautiful area. The few times we able to go to San Diego, we are off to the beach area to cool off, so I am afraid we never see the places you show us on your videos. Appreciate the time you take to give the history of the memorial, just tragic for those men. Arizona had the Yarnell Hill fire in 2013, 19 firefighters lost their lives, there is a memorial there too, but I believe it is quite away from the highway. We went through Yarnell a couple years ago, but the memorial was still under construction. The landscape is somewhat similar to the Inaja Memorial area.
I haven't been to Yarnell, but when looking up info on this the fire in Arizona came up a few times.
I'll have to get my eyes unstuck from hearing about the kid who threw the match. Such a thoughtless moment to cause such devastation. Great video covering this though. It's weird experiencing things like this after the fact and looking around to see healthy vegetation and no real remnant of the fire, isn't it? It was similar when we covered the Granite Mountain Hotshots. Apart from the memorials, just tons of regrowth. Was such a weird contrast.
Yes, totally. I believe the area was burned about 20 years ago too, making it that much more amazing how any trace is gone.
Dudley's! One of the true jewels of the Julian area. The park is a beautiful place for a picnic and a leisurely hike. It's poignant tribute to a brave group of men . I was just a little kid when the fire happened. We could see the smoke from our house in Clairemont.
Nicely Done, Mr. Adventures! For those of you who don't know Dudley's -- you don't (yet) know what bread IS. I have been going there since the early 1960s but I never seem to stop at the Inaja park. I think I will fix that tomorrow. Thanks for getting my butt outa the house! Outstanding channel!
Thank you for the kind words. I've been getting Dudleys since I was a kid. Every time we pass through we have to stop and grab some for ourselves and family members.
HIYA STEVE - YOU WERE RIGHT , I ALSO DIDNT KNOW ABOUT THE FIREFIGHTERS - HUGGGS FOR SHOWING ❤❤❤
Thank you. I keep hearing such wonderful things about Julian from the PCT hikers. This will be another great place to visit near there. BTW, Julian also has a good bakery/restaurant.
We drove through Julian to grab a pie after this and it was absolutely packed. Was great to see after the last few years. They did have a big sign up welcoming PCT hikers too.
If you go there, check out the scenic overlook just outside of Julian , south on 79, past Fire Station 56, a road on the left called Inspiration Point. From there you can see way out to Anza Borrego desert and the Salton Sea! Spectacular!
We used to live in Santee, years ago, and would drive up to Julian every chance we got to spend the day. Dudley's was definitely on our list of stops to make. Do they still make those awesome brownies???
But, we never knew of the memorial park or the story behind it.
Thank you for the video.
I don't about the brownies, I'll have to look next time I'm in the area.
You bring such interesting topics to RUclips. Thanks again for what you do.
Another place for me to visit when I'm in Julian later this year...love your videos,...please keep up the good work...:)
Thank you! Will do!
Dudley's is so awesome! I really enjoy your content and how you dig into the details of history. With that in mind I think I have an idea for a interesting video. Just south of Lake Cuyamaca are the remains of one of San Diego's oldest Boy Scout camps, Camp Hual-Cu-Cuish. The camp was closed several decades ago in favor of other camps and then burned in one of the fires that swept through the area since. Chimneys, foundations, the pool, and trails are all still very visible even from Google Earth. Just a thought from one who loves your work. Cheers!
I remember when the camp burned in the Cedar Fire. I'll look into it for sure. Thank you for the suggestion.
Thank you so much for this video. I’ve lived in San Diego County for 62 years, my whole life, and I did not know about this memorial or The story behind it. And I’ve driven by it many times. Next time I’ll stop. Thanks again! Great work. And both my husband and I love your baseball cap!
Always enjoy your videos. I am 74 years old, live on Maryland's Eastern Shore, and due to my low vision, have not been able to drive, for the past 6 years. So thank you again, for your great videos, that let me go on virtual trips, with you.
Glad to have you along with us!
I am amazed at the stuff you find around the county!
I really miss a few years ago when I was able-bodied and trails like this wouldn't have been a problem. Thanks for taking us along on your adventures.
Our pleasure!
Nice meeting you at Dudley's!! I immediately recognized you because I love your videos. I hope we meet again, and I'll be sending you some links to some historical and Native American areas of SD you may be interested in. Some of the areas need to be kept secret though. Have a great one! 😉
It was nice meeting you too! I'm always super surprised when I get recognized. Looking forward to checking out the info you send.
Thanks for another trip down the memory lane of my youth.
Wow you continue to amaze me & the knowledge you drop on us awesome,,, NOW I know you know your the man! See America this is how the best separate from the rest,,NOT A GHOST TOWN WHEN A RUNNING POST OFFICE,,,good one bro,, TO YOUR FAMILY AS WELL AS YOURSELF HAPPY GOBBLE GOBBLE DAY ,,FROM HOLTVILLE CA,
I was out that way about a month ago, and had no idea about this memorial. Or, Dudley's either. I missed out, no doubt.
As always, excellent content.
I've stopped at the memorial many times to snack on bakery stuff from Dudley's. I always leave a small rock to let them know they aren't forgotten.
Thanks for the brief look at Dudleys. I have never heard of that restaurant/bakery and will have to make it a point to stop in there and check out their sandwiches that another viewer on here said were delicious. The views from that trail certainly were worth the hike! The numbered signs were mysterious. Did you ever figure out what they represented? You were lucky you had the whole park to yourself that day. That doesn’t happen too often, you know. This was a park that I had never heard of. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Will have to visit one of these days. Nice video!
I figure they probably used to have maps with more explanations on the numbers but must have stopped doing it at some point. When we got back and looked at the sign again we noticed 1 and 2 on the sign didn't correspond to the markers on the trail either.
@@SidetrackAdventures I was thinking the same thing. At some point in the past there must have been a brochure or map you could take with you on the trail that explained what each of the numbered signs was showing. It’s too bad that has fallen into disrepair. Maybe somebody will see your video and go up there and revive that.
My parents used to always stop at Dudley's whenever we returned from visiting Julian
I think the Cedar Fire in 2003 went through there as well, so maybe that's what happened to the original setup?
It's also called the Santa Isabel open space preserve.
Thank you for doing this one. I will put this on my bucket list...
Thanks!
Thank you so much, I appreciate all the support.
Ilve lived herein San Diego for 66 years and never knew of this spot . Love Dudleys thou.
There is a similar memorial near Yarnell, AZ. They made a movie about that incident called Only the Brave.
There used to be a handout for the numbers on the trail. I used to live in north county for many years and was a firefighter and learned about how that fire helped create the. Standard orders and watch outs. Used to go to Dudleyls.and Julian quite regularly.
Really cool! To see this memorial is as relevant today as ever, maybe more. We need to get our ship together here on Earth.
Wholesome. Beautiful footage.
Dudley's sandwiches are amazing!
Yes! This day I tried the tuna melt and it was so good.
Have been to Dudley's several times over the years and have bought lunch there. I've also been to the Inaja park to eat and explore. There is old General Store building in Santa Ysabel that use to be run by SOHO and I think it's a hardware store now.
Yes, the general store is open and selling hardware and locally made crafts and even antiques.
The general store is a great stop too. The pie shop in Santa Ysabel is usually a lot easier to access than in Julian as well.
The old timers remember Toms Chicken Shack.
My dad had told me years ago about when our family was coming home frome visiting family in NE driving up 78 through julian to where we lived in Ramona - i was 1 year old that day it was burning I don’t remember it but he told me a few times through the years I now live about 20 minutes from there It was a sad time for those who fought the fire and of course the families as well
Thanks for this video
Thank you for watching.
Wow, I didn't even know a flashover could occur outdoors!
It's really pretty and beautiful landscape there.
Thank you for posting a video about this trail. My husband and I will check it out.
Have fun! Its a pretty short trail but there is a lot more to do in the area.
3 days late?! What is wrong with me, sorry.
Another great video thank you
It's no problem at all. Thank you for watching.
When I worked in Del Mar, CA in 1995, we sold Julian Pies and I think Dudley cookies, the cookies were more like fig newtons than a cookie and were so delicious!! I could be wrong on the origin/supplier, but those fruit newtons were AWESOME!
It could be Dudley's. They have a bunch of different deserts there. I don't think we've tried the cookies though.
I had no idea this trail existed, great video 👍🏻
Hey sidetrack , you should explore the new englemann oak park in Santa Isabel, it's off of the 78 highway just before you get to Santa Isabel.
I'll look into it.
I have visited this site before on my way back from Santa Isabel mission, we stopped by to see what it was. There is another interesting firefighters memorial off of highway 74 between San Capistrano and Lake Elsinore.
From the git-go or your video, the park looked abandoned. The weeds... excuse me, the natural fauna, was growing everywhere, making the park look unmaintained. And, for most folks, unmaintained equals abandoned. You'd think the Forest Service could take as much pride in their picnic ground as they do their sign.
I don't mean to answer your wonderful video with a gripe, but I mean it as response to your observation that no one was there.
Best content ever
Love your channel. You should do the Yarnell fire that tragically killed 19 of the Granite Mountain Hotshots.
It's one giant Saddleback. My Lord!!!!
As a kid back in the 60’s our family would drive up to Julien from Escondido. my Dad would tell us the story of the firefighters as we drove by. He would tell us in the gorge where the firefighters were trapped in by the fire, the rocks had claw marks where the firefighters tried to crawl out.
I’ve stopped here several times, it’s a nice place to hike. Unfortunately firefighters died here
Been there many times but didn't know the history.
The BEST pie comes from the Mountain Bakery in Santa Ysabel! We bought one pie from every bakery in the Julian area (including the original Julian bakery)in 2019, and had a neighborhood blind pie tasting contest. Mountain Bakery won 17 out of 19 votes!. Apple Alley was the 2nd favorite. Sadly, the original Julian apple pie was the least favorite as it had virtually no filling. But their apple cider doughnuts are to die for! I don't think Inaja is ever busy, but last time we tried the trail, the hill was coated in tiny gravel rocks that just made us slip back down. It was just me with 4 little kids, so didn't want to risk someone falling and getting a sprain so turned around. Early on the trail, off the trail and to the left are 2 huge flat rocks, with a wide gap between them that the kids wanted to dash out to....but don't let them because it's a straight drop down. A teen or adult can make the jump, but little ones can't.
We'll have to check out Maintain Bakery. We ended up buying pies at Mom's on this trip.
Love your research and attention to detail. Watch out though for worn out lines like this-what happened here changed______ forever. Instead, use different words.
Almost 40 years ago some friends & I picked the rocks above the river. A smart elleck friend dropped my camera over the edge. I made him hike down & retrieve it.
As kids we stupidly got almost trapped and killed by smoke inhalation in a forest controlled burn.
You actually can't inhale and you're living on the air in your blood.
We breathed out and ran. 😮
You missed the best part. At about midpoint there's a peak with a stone viewing area and seats. It's a loop trail and it looks like you came back the way you started so maybe you missed it.
I never knew. I guess I had Mom's boysenberry/apple pie on my mind.
What became of the 16 year old kid who started the fire?
I wondered what happened to the kid, too.
A quick Google-fu search doesn't supply any answers to the numbered markers on the trail. 🤔
Nice bread.
What ever happened to that 16yr old kid?