Welcome to my CDF/Cal Fire Registry History Page. My name is Gary Ungricht , and this is a short Historical perspective of my time with the organization. My Training, Assignments, Calls, Incidents and Adventures that I recall as vivid memories. My co-workers and friends often called me GMAN .
My First Assignment with CDF began in : 1968. I Retired in : 2007
Assigned Work Locations : 1968-69. 1971 Lyon’s Valley Forest Fire Station- San Diego Ranger Unit 1970-Potrero Forest Fire Station-San Diego Ranger Unit (Firefighter) 1972-1980-Orange Ranger Unit @ the following locations: Fireman at Headquarters and Skyline (Station 8 ) Fire Apparatus Engineer Station 22 from 1973-1976 Fire Captain @ San Juan Capistrano FFS 1977-1979 Fire Captain @ Station 9 in Mission Viejo 1977-1980
Favorite Assignments : I enjoyed all of my assignments. I started my fire service career, with CDF, as a seasonal firefighter, for 4 fire seasons, from 1968-1970, from the age of 17 through age 20. I became proficient with wildland fire behavior and firefighting during my youth. I enjoyed Bill Clayton, as my mentor, the first two years, at Lyons. I became a permanent employee, for CDF, when I promoted to fireman, in 1972. I promoted quickly to Fire Apparatus Engineer, at the age of 23, and was assigned to Station 22. For three years, I gained the majority of my experience, in the fire service, because this was the busiest fire station in all of Orange County. I also became an EMT, at this time. I drove two different fire engines and a truck company. I promoted to Fire Captain, at the early age of 26, and was assigned to San Juan Capistrano.
Most Interesting Calls : My most challenging fire was the most destructive fire, in the history of Orange County. It was the Laguna Fire of 1993, when 350 homes were destroyed. My self, and my crew fought fire for 18 hours straight ! The final challenging fire, of my career, was the Santiago Fire of 2007. I was 57 years old at the time.
My thoughts about my time with CDF and some Comments for those considering joining CDF/Cal Fire : My fire service career lasted for 40 years. I decided to retire when I was diagnosed with diabetes. The first 13 years, I was a CDF employee. The final 27 years, of my fire service career, was as a captain, with the Orange County Fire Department and ORCO Fire Authority, in the South Orange County communities of San Juan Capistrano, Mission Viejo, and Laguna Niguel.
A Recent Picture
