The La Brea fire is burning across the highway from where the 1979 Spanish Ranch burned 30 years ago today. The August 15, 1979 wildfire claimed the lives of four California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE) firefighters who were working on an indirect fireline 40 miles east of Santa Maria, California. Those four firefighters were Captain Ed Marty, and firefighters Scott Cox, Ron Lorant and Steve Manley.
Joe Valencia wrote, Area Ignition, which is a book about the 1979 fire. Joe also put together a document on the Lessons Learned site that gives a brief summary of the incident.
Here is the cover page from Joe’s document.
The Spanish Ranch fire is one of the in our recently revised partial list, by date of the year, of some of the more famous, or infamous, multiple fatality wildland fires around the world over the last 150 years.
I was good friends with Edwin Marty in Vung Tau Vietnam in 1967/1968. We had met at school at Fort Eustis,VA. In Vietnam he was in the 329th Heavy Boat Co. and I was just across the sidewalk in the 5th Heavy Boat Co.. Ed and I worked,drank,fought,the women,etc.together daily until he left to be discharged in 68. When he left he said “Rat, take care of yourself, and you know I’m not much of a writer.” That was the last I ever saw of him except for some photos, and great memories of him.I was telling some stories about us at work the other day and when I got home went on Google.I wish to god I hadn’t because when I opened the PDF file on the 1979 Spanish Ranch Fire and saw his photo on page seven I just broke down. It’s bad enough they died so young but the way they died! If there is anyone out there could tell me was Ed ever married,children,anything, I’d be very grateful.Ed was a wonderful person.He was dependable, hard working, kind,and funny. He told me one time,”Rat, if I had been born a good looking woman there would be a whore in the family.”Another time he asked me if I knew how he want to die? He said he wanted to be shot to death in bed by a jealous husband at 105 yrs. old.” I told him neither of us was going to make it to 105.
Anyway I feel a little better after writing this. Again if anyone can fill in the blanks on Ed’s life from 1968 to that fateful 15 Aug, 79 please contact me. Also my father’s birthday was August 15th. Very sincerely, John Skorat, Saint Louis, Missouri
If anyone has information about Mr. Marty for Mr. Skorat, contact us at the “Contact Us” page and we can give you his email address.
Bill G.
John: I worked for Ed Marty in 1978-79. I was on another engine at the Spanish Ranch Fire. After the bodies were removed, our engine crew walked up to the site of the fatalities. Ed taken me out for my 21st birthday 7 months prior. I also knew Ron Lorant and Scott Manley as friends, and had barely just met Scott Cox. All were good people, and I think of them often.I can put you in touch with a few of the other people who knew Ed well during the last years of his life.
Dan,Thank you so much responding.I would be grateful if you could put me in touch with the people who knew Ed.I’m sorry for all the men lost through the years.This discovery about Ed has got me more upset than anything in my life except the death of my father.I think what has got me so upset is I didn’t insist that Ed give me a mailing address, or phone number, and even though I know he wasn’t much on letter writing I still would have been in contact. Like you said, I think of them often.To better days. Thanks again. John
John-
I gave Dan your email address, so I assume he will be contacting you. And I am sorry for your loss, and also sorry you had to find out about it this way. But, at least your found out. Maybe the contacts you are making will lead to some peace.
Bill G.
Bill,
Thank you for the kind words.I’ve always admired firefighters for there courage to mix it up with “The Beast”. I wouldn’t do it. I will say that if I had anything to say about it,the arson fires if they caught whoever was responsible I’d stake them to an ant hill for starters.Me and my wife watched the horrendous fires in California last year with great sadness on the news.
I’m going to donate some money in Ed’s name for your Wildland Firefighters Foundation as soon as I get done here. Thank you for all you do. I won’t bother you anymore as I’m sure Dan will come through for me. John
Spanish Ranch Fire, 1979- Check out “Area Ignition” by Joseph Valencia which tells the story about the tragedy that happened that August day. This is the story of my uncle, Scott Cox, and the other 3 men who were not only strong, brave…but are people that I will ALWAYS look up to. I can’t say enough about how Thankful I am to have such people like Scott and others who who have given their life battling fires. We owe it to all the firefighters out there to learn more and really appreciate what they do!
Carissa-
Thank you for your comment. I am very sorry for the tragedy involving your uncle, Mr. Cox, on the Spanish Ranch Fire. Know that many people have studied that fire and have learned from what happened there.
We are very familiar with Joseph Valencia and his books “Area Ignition” about the Spanish Ranch Fire, and his book “From Tranquillon Ridge” about the 1977 Honda Canyon fire on Vandenberg Air Force Base. In fact we conducted a live text discussion with him HERE. During that event, we talked about both of those fires.
Bill
Steve Manley was my best friend. We grew up a few houses away in La Habra, played water polo together and were in close touch while he was in college at UCSB. When he died in this fire it was one of the most devastating experiences of my life. Still affects me. I can never live up to his commitment to his fellow man. Thanks for keeping the memory of these men alive. Heroes, yes. Friends of many. Committed to service. Beautiful people all.