Wealthy landowner provides critical base for firefighting

LOS ANGELES — Perched atop the Santa Monica Mountains, there’s a prime chunk of real estate with stunning ocean views that’s owned by a wealthy former radio executive.

You won’t find a palatial mansion or an infinity pool there, however. Instead, the former executive and county firefighters have transformed the picturesque property into a remote base for helicopters to refill their water tanks — a spot that’s helping prevent small fires from turning catastrophic.

Known as 69 Bravo, it’s the result of an unusual partnership between the executive, whose legal name is Simon T, and the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The county’s helicopters rely on the base as a quick and easy spot to refill water during blazes, such as the Palisades fire last month.

“You look at what this gives us, for all the residents that we serve,” said Jon O’Brien, a deputy chief at the department. “It’s unparalleled. I don’t think you can place a value on having a site like this.”

County fire officials first approached Simon T nearly a decade ago to propose creating a helipad at the 34-acre site, which is uniquely situated as a base of operations for various emergencies, such as earthquakes or medical evacuations.

The site is a 15-minute drive from Pacific Coast Highway through winding canyon roads. It’s since been transformed into a fully automated water base, where multiple helicopters can refill their tanks at the same time, over and over, as they make round trips to fight blazes.

Simon T has played a key role in transforming the private site into a crucial public asset, though he’s reluctant to talk about it or take any credit.

“Make sure they get the credit,” he said of the region’s firefighters.

Pilots typically rely on reservoirs, lakes and wells...