Forestry Foreman

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

8/8/1959

Special Act Award (Gold)

On August 8, 1959, at approximately 7:00 p.m., Division of Forestry Foreman John Guthrie, as the leader and driver of a three person fire engine crew, responded to a fire caused by a traffic collision an hour earlier along the Ortega Highway (SR-74) about two miles west of Lake Elsinore. The crew headed north towards the billowing smoke. As they approached the fire, Foreman Guthrie got out and started down a steep bank to assess the situation and get a better look at the fire burning below. The fire was quickly increasing in intensity and the shifting winds pushed a wall of flames up the canyon towards their truck. Foreman Guthrie scrambled back and told his crew to move the fire engine up the highway out of the path of the fire and he would join them. He also advised the firefighters to stay in the engine cab for protection. He knew there was no room for him in the truck. Suddenly the fire burst upon them. With flames advancing, Foreman Guthrie ran to the fire engine and tried to use a hose line to wet himself down, but the hoses were burned. He dove under the truck for protection, but was overwhelmed by the inferno that roared across the highway. Receiving 3rd and 4th degree burns over 85% of his body, Foreman Guthrie was initially transported to a local hospital and subsequently moved to Redlands Hospital. He passed away five weeks later from his wounds. The Decker Wildland Fire was finally controlled five days later after burning nearly 1,400 acres and killing six firefighters and one civilian.