Volunteers honored for selfless service in various programs on the forest

Perhaps you’ve seen them on a hiking trail, a trailhead or on an off-highway vehicle road in the forest. They’re friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about the area or activity you are partaking in when you cross paths. They are volunteers with the Southern California Mountains Foundation (SCMF) serving on the San Bernardino National Forest.

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The people, who serve as those volunteers were honored in a ceremony at the Big Bear Discovery Center on the Mountaintop Ranger

 District of the forest, Oct. 19. They were joined by family members and friends in the celebration of all the hours of service to the public, who visit or live within this national forest. The SBNF is considered one of the most highly urbanized forests in the nation and highly prone to wildfires, as evidenced by the Line Fire that started Sept. 5 and is 98 percent contained as of Oct. 23. That makes for a very busy forest; nevertheless, volunteers spend time, energy and sweat involved in beneficial projects and engaging the public.

There’s always time for the public even when volunteers are looking out for fire. At the fire lookout towers, volunteers spend hours observing the landscape of the forest for signs of smoke and flames; but they also host visitors at the towers. Why not share the great views and historical information with the public? Some volunteers have been doing this for years. Some have been serving most of their life.

Volunteers participate in various endeavors, such as the Off-Highway Vehicle Program of the Southern California Mountains Foundation.

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James Roberts, a Fire Lookout Volunteer, has been helping to spot fires for three years. However, the forest has been part of his identity for much longer.

“I grew up in these mountains,” said Roberts, who is from Redlands, Calif., and received a bronze-level President’s Volunteer Service Award. “I became an Eagle Scout. I helped with search and rescue in these mountains. This is my home too.”

Roberts explained that volunteering at the Morton Peak Fire Lookout fits his interests and his skills. Getting to Morton Peak has been no problem with his four-wheel drive vehicle.  

“It’s the right thing to do and I’m loving doing it,” Roberts said about contribut

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ing to the fire lookout program.

His friend Kevin Johnson has also volunteered three years scanning for fire on this forest. Previously, he spent five years at the fire lookout program on the Angeles National Forest. Johnson recalled serving as a lookout at a temporary structure on Vetter Mountain, since the original tower burned in the 2009 Station Fire. The volunteers continued to maintain fire lookout services under that temporary shelter until a new tower was built and opened in July 2020.

Johnson and Roberts talked about the Line Fire’s impact on Keller and Morton peaks’ fire lookout towers. The tower at Keller burned completely and at the Morton site the bathroom burned. The friends are hopeful that repairs can be made and a replacement can be built.

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At the ceremony, Casey Shaffer, Recreation Officer for the Mountaintop Ranger District, praised the volunteers’ service.

“I have been working side by side with the Foundation volunteers for the last eight years,” Casey said. “I am always amazed by the hard work, the dedication and the knowledge and expertise that you bring to our forest. You really are a big part of our community and without you we wouldn’t be able to accomplish a lot of the things we do on the forest. Thank you so much for everything.”

Volunteers received various levels of the President’s Volunteer Service Award. The gold level recognized volunteers, who have contributed 500 hours or more; the silver level was given for 250-499 hours, and; the bronze award involved 100 to 249 hours. They also receive a certificate, pin and a recreation pass. Some volunteers were bestowed a lifetime award that honors 4,000 or more hours of service.

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Southern California Mountains Foundation, forest celebrate individuals involved in off-road, trails, restoration, fire lookouts and more

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