I was born in Portland, Oregon, but spent most of my growing years in Whitney, Oregon , helping my Grandpa at the Ranch.

When I was old enough to get a job with the United States Forest Service I pursued what eventually became my career. At the tender age of 16 I was hired by the Wallowa-Whitman N.F. as a GS-01. That’s right folks, a GS-01. During this first summer as a government employee I spent 2 weeks on my first “wildfire”. Click here to see a photo of myself and Angie Mathew washing our dreadlocks in the Eagle Cap Wilderness!

After working two seasons as a GS-1 and one season as a GS-3, I decided I wanted more. So, I went to college to become a Forestry Technician, and (eventually) graduated with a AAS Forest Resource Mgmt. (1992), and a AAS Wildland Fire Science (1996).

In June of 1991, I became a permanent employee of the USFS, receiving my position from the Deschutes National forest, (thanks Val) where I supervised the operations of a Type III Model 80 Engine.

In 1994, I decided I wanted a little more excitement so I joined up with the Redmond Hotshots and had a partying good time. I made lots of great friends and good pals and saw plenty of fire. The 1994 fire season was unfortunately, a tragic one. It was during the rough times of this fire season that I learned to take my mind off of the present by making fire rings from quarters. If you would like to learn the proper way to make a fire ring while on the fireline, send me an e-mail at firefighting@geocities.com.

In January of 1995, I revisited Storm King Mountain to say good-bye to our lost Brothers and Sisters, and to explore the site where they fought their last fire.

In the fire season of 1995, I was back to the grind as an Engine Foreman, Initial Attacking Wildfires and holding ‘em small. I also spent some time working with the Prineville IHC and touring fires on the Malheur N.F. with the crew.

In 1997 I mixed things up a bit when I joined the Malheur Rappel crew. You see, I love a thrill and I really am obsessed with helicopters. Rapelling out of a helicopter is an absolute blast. The longer the rappel, the bigger the thrill. I made a lot of great friends in 1997, and earned a belief that rappeling is the best job in the Service.
Another thrill I learned during the 1997 season was how to cut down the big trees! That’s right I am now certified to cut big ones and check out my stump.

After much ado (and a little wear and tear on the body), I submitted an application to become a Battalion Chief with the US Forest Service in Region 5 California. Much to my surprise, I was successful in the competition and moved to Gasquet California in October 1998. I spent 4 wonderful years of transitioning into the R5 way of life and absorbing all that it has to offer. Although the US Forest Service is a great outfit to work for, in November of 2002 I decided to make the switch from Federal Fire Service to State Fire, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. I am now employeed by CDF as a Captain "B", which is the supervisor of an inmate fire crew.

One big part of my life is my incredibly handsome son, Stephen. Like me, he is also a thrill seeker. Nothing goes fast enough, and if he could figure out how to put a V-8 on his go-cart, he would. In fact, at the yound age of 14 he now owns a Ford Fairlane, 1964 model (GO FORD)! He also likes snowboarding, motorcycles, snowmobiles, helicopters, and ultralights.

Oh, did I mention that I belonged to a volunteer fire department? From 1996 until my Oregon departure in late 1998, I volunteered for The Sunriver Fire Department, which serves the resort community of Sunriver, Oregon. It’s a great place to work and hang-out, and lots of good people there too.