About David
Dave’s interest in forests and forestry developed at an early age because his father had a lifelong career with the U.S. Forest Service. Dave decided to follow in his father’s footsteps.
At age 17, and while still in high school, Dave joined the Forest Service’s Young Adult Conservation Corps (YACC), gaining his first experience working with fuel modification crews and firefighting.
After graduating from high school in 1978, Dave completed the YACC program and then joined the U.S.F.S. Dalton Hotshots based in Glendora, California where he saw significant action and gained invaluable experience.
During the fire siege of 1987 that hit most of the western states, the Dalton Hotshots saw a lot of action, resulting in this highly
trained crew of firefighters being awarded a special certificate for invaluable services rendered.
The Blue Fire was an extremely taxing fire event that forced the Dalton Hotshots to work 24 hour shifts. Even though the fire burned only through light and flashy fuels, it was very intense and fast moving. Several times the Dalton Hotshots lost the fire line and had to get into the freshly burned fire zone for safety before regaining control of the fire. Working 24 hours straight
and then getting only 8 to 9 hours of rest is very stressful on body and mind.
Often the Dalton Hotshots were flown from fire to fire in transport planes and then dropped by helicopter directly at the fire line in difficult terrain.
During off-season Dave and the Dalton Hotshots focused their attention on fuel modification projects and prescribed burning of vegetation, giving Dave more training in proper vegetation management.
While serving on a U.S.F.S. engine crew, Dave was deployed as an initial attack team on the Malibu Fire fall of 1997, desperately trying to save multi-million dollar homes that had no defensible space. Ultimately this fire burned its way through the community all the way to the beach. This is where Dave learned about the value of having defensible space to help protect homes. Normal duties included all emergency first response from traffic accidents to structure fires.
When Dave arrived at the San Bernardino National Forest his first assignment included forest protection and patrolling the Deep Creek drainage region all the way to the desert as forest protection officer. The latter part of the 1990’s saw Dave working as part of an engineering team surveying, mapping and maintaining of forest service roads in the area with heavy equipment.
Dave’s tenure with the U.S. Forest Service ended in 2001. Already in 1996 Dave started his own business. On a part time basis he offered property maintenance, like clearing of flammable vegetation and weed abatement ordinance compliance.
After leaving the Forest Service, Dave became involved with the removal of bark beetle killed trees in the San Bernardino Mountains and quickly established an excellent reputation for reliable and high quality work performance.
At age 17, and while still in high school, Dave joined the Forest Service’s Young Adult Conservation Corps (YACC), gaining his first experience working with fuel modification crews and firefighting.
After graduating from high school in 1978, Dave completed the YACC program and then joined the U.S.F.S. Dalton Hotshots based in Glendora, California where he saw significant action and gained invaluable experience.
During the fire siege of 1987 that hit most of the western states, the Dalton Hotshots saw a lot of action, resulting in this highly
trained crew of firefighters being awarded a special certificate for invaluable services rendered.
The Blue Fire was an extremely taxing fire event that forced the Dalton Hotshots to work 24 hour shifts. Even though the fire burned only through light and flashy fuels, it was very intense and fast moving. Several times the Dalton Hotshots lost the fire line and had to get into the freshly burned fire zone for safety before regaining control of the fire. Working 24 hours straight
and then getting only 8 to 9 hours of rest is very stressful on body and mind.
Often the Dalton Hotshots were flown from fire to fire in transport planes and then dropped by helicopter directly at the fire line in difficult terrain.
During off-season Dave and the Dalton Hotshots focused their attention on fuel modification projects and prescribed burning of vegetation, giving Dave more training in proper vegetation management.
While serving on a U.S.F.S. engine crew, Dave was deployed as an initial attack team on the Malibu Fire fall of 1997, desperately trying to save multi-million dollar homes that had no defensible space. Ultimately this fire burned its way through the community all the way to the beach. This is where Dave learned about the value of having defensible space to help protect homes. Normal duties included all emergency first response from traffic accidents to structure fires.
When Dave arrived at the San Bernardino National Forest his first assignment included forest protection and patrolling the Deep Creek drainage region all the way to the desert as forest protection officer. The latter part of the 1990’s saw Dave working as part of an engineering team surveying, mapping and maintaining of forest service roads in the area with heavy equipment.
Dave’s tenure with the U.S. Forest Service ended in 2001. Already in 1996 Dave started his own business. On a part time basis he offered property maintenance, like clearing of flammable vegetation and weed abatement ordinance compliance.
After leaving the Forest Service, Dave became involved with the removal of bark beetle killed trees in the San Bernardino Mountains and quickly established an excellent reputation for reliable and high quality work performance.