The
Fulton Hotshot Crew was started on the Greenhorn R.D on the Sequoia N.F as
a 6-person fuels crew that worked out of the Fulton Work center throughout
the 1960’s. There were two other 6 person fuels crews that worked out of
Davis Camp and Richbar Camp on the Greenhorn R.D of the Sequoia N.F. When
a fire assignment was filled, the district combined the three crews for a
total of 18 personnel and sent them to the assignment.
In 1970 Bill Sandborg became the crew Foreman
in or around the month of August. The district combined the three stations
for a total of 15-20 personnel at Fulton. When a fire dispatch order came
to the district, the district sent the fuels crew from Fulton. At this time,
Bill Sandborg called them the Fulton Hotshots while on fire assignments
and was severely reprimanded by Dick Montague from the Regional Office.
Although Bill put up an outstanding fight on
why they should be called the Fulton Hotshots, he never convinced Dick
Montague until 1973 when the crew was assigned to the Pillikan Fire on the Eldorado N.F.
Well the story goes as follows: apparently the
crew had pulled five straight 24 hour shifts and picked up a large portion
of the fire which was considered the highest priority on the incident. The
Regional Fire Staff was visiting the incident due to its publicity. Upon
the completion of Fulton’s assignment, Dick Montague visited the area of
concern on the fire. At that time the Fulton crew was returning from their
shift and ran into Dick Montague while walking off the line after their 5
continuous shifts. Dick Montague was so impressed that at that time he
announced, congratulated and awarded Bill Sandborg and the Fulton crew as
now being identified as the Fulton Hotshots Nationally.
Although all the Hotshot Crews were being
established around that time frame, Fulton was a little ahead of its time
in 1973.
CREW SUPERINTENDENTS
William Sandborg
1970-1983
James Smith
1983-1988
Dan Kleinman
1989-1997
Ron Bollier 1998-Present