Incident Name: Spanish Ranch Fire, east of Nipomo, CA
Date: 08/15/79, 3 died immediately, Scott Cox died on 2/3/80
Personnel: 4 Lives Lost
Age:
Agency/Organization: California Department of Forestry (now CAL FIRE), US Forest Service, Santa Barbara Fire Department
Position: firefighters
Summary:
Edwin M Marty, 35, Fire Captain, from Nipomo
Scott W Cox, 25, firefighter, from Golita, died Feb 3, 1980 from injuries
Ronald T Lorant, 23, Firefighter, from Long Beach
Steven R Manley, 21, Firefighter, from Golita
The 4 members of CDF Engine 5373 responded from Nipomo Station and arrived on the Spanish Ranch fire just prior to 1600 hrs. Engine 5373 was assigned to provide support for firing out. Around 1615 hrs the fire begins to pick up, and at 1625 hrs extreme fire behavior is observed and area ignition occurred. Ground crews were quickly entrapped; the lookout was able to escape, 2 Dozer operators were trapped and survived (one with minor burns). Ed Marty, Ron Lorant and Steve Manley died in the fire, Scott Cox survived but died 202 days later; they did not have fire shelters.
From the CDF Case Study (link below):
Memorial and close up of Plaques
Maps
Accident Site {mosmap lat=’35.089784’| lon=’-119.987320’|text=’Burnover location for the Spanish Ranch Fire’}
Reports, Documentation, Lessons Learned
- Spanish Ranch Fire Case Study (1,460 K pdf)
- Spanish Ranch Fire: Info Sheet connected with the book.
- Area Ignition: True Story of the Spanish Ranch Fire, By Joseph Valencia
- Spanish Ranch Fire Fatality Case Study, LLC YouTube, 14:30 min, published April 24, 2012. Study of the 1979 Spanish Ranch Fire Fatalites.
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Wildlandfire.com Links:
- IMWTK (Inquiring Minds Want to Know): CDF (CAL FIRE) fire shelter use
Media Articles and Reports.
Photos, Videos, & Tributes
- California Death Index: Edwin Marvin Marty
- Find a Grave: Edwin Marvin MartyBuried in Los Molinos Cemetery
Los Molinos
Tehama County
California, USA
Plot: Section 10
- US Social Security Death Index: Ronald Lorant
- California Death Index: Steve Robert Manley | California Birth Index: Steven Robert Manley, mother: Rodecker
- California Death Index: Scitt William Cox
- California Memorial Firefighter Wall in Sacramento, CA: California Memorial LODDs by Wall Order. (84 K pdf) –see page 15
Contributors to this article: Mellie
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