Mill Creek Hotshots History
The Mill Creek Hotshots were established in 1975-Disbanded in 1984-Restablished in 2001.
1975
The crew was established at the Mill Creek Ranger Station on the San Gorgonio Ranger District of the San Bernardino National Forest. The Mill Creek Hotshots appeared and disappeared several times during the next eight years with their first run from 1975 through 1978 under Superintendent Mike Goldenbee and foremen Richard Keebaugh and Dave Dooley.
1978
Dooley left the crew and Terry W. Molzahn became one of the foremen. Molzahn stayed with the crew the whole season. The Mill Creek Hotshots were cut along with all the other crews assigned to the Maple Fire on the Cleveland N.F. in the late fall of 1978. Upon returning to the Forest, the crew was instructed to stay until the winter. Over the winter the crew overhead were released under a reduction in force or RIF.
1980
The crew was reestablished under superintendent Mike Goldenbee and foremen Rick Keebaugh and Tom Walker, who replaced Molzahn.
1981
George Motschall became superintendent, replacing Goldenbee.
1982
The crew was disbanded again as a result of more budget cuts and disappeared at the end of the fire season along with several other Southern California Hotshot Crews from the Cleveland and Angeles National Forests.
2002
The Mill Creek Hotshots were resurrected as part of a dramatic build up of fire suppression resources in California with increases of the federal fire management budget. The crew is quartered at the Mill Creek Station on the Front Country Ranger District and still uses the same facilities as the original Mill Creek Hotshots three decades ago.
2003
The crew received Hotshot status in the fall of 2003 and continues to serve in the tradition of the Mill Creek Hotshots of years past and the California Hotshot Community.
additional notes
"This is some of what I remember about Mill Creek Hotshots. I retired from the Forest Service in December of 2004. At my dinner, I was given a Chrome Bushhook by Dan Snow and Louie Nuno. As far as I know Louie and Scott Wanger are the last two people still working from the Crew of the 70's."
Terry W. Molzahn
DFMO Mount Whitney Ranger District (RET)
Inyo National Forest & Thompson Falls, Montana
"I was the driver at Mormon Rocks on the Cajon R.D. (Ranger District) in '74, having been on the Redding Smokejumpers in '73 and on the Del Rosa Hot Shots in '70-'72. When the San Bernardino spooled up the Mill Creek crew Mike Goldenbee was selected to the Superintendent slot, Richard Keebaugh was Foreman of crew #1 and I was Foreman of crew #2.
Some of the folks on the crew at start up stuck around long term and made a career of the FS (Forest Service), including Louie Nuno, Scott Wagner, Terry Molzahn and Mike Conrad. Ray Mendoza might also have made a career of the FS.
I stayed with Mill Creek through '76, then switched over to Law Enforcement a few years later and retired from the FS early in 2002."
Dave Dooley
Crew Superintendents
| Name | Dates |
|---|---|
| John Ellison | present |
| Pete Coy | 2002 |
| George Motschall | 1981-1982 |
| Mike Goldenbee | 1975-1980 |
