Fred Benton passed away 12/21/19 in Siskiyou County, were he had been a resident for several years.
Fred Benton retiring on or about December 1992 from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection as SFR 1 (Battalion Chief) Sierra-Cascade Region II ECC Chief. Fred spent many year working in that capacity and was instrumental in the combining the Region II and the North Zone facility at the Redding Airport to make it an Interagency Operation (USFS, DOI, CDF) as the old terms, known as I believe to be Radio Call 2 – Zone. Which is now the Northern GACC/North Ops. Fred was great with this position developing the relations with all the agencies involved. Fred was very involved in the improvements to the telecommunication of Region II and throughout the state. Fred was a private pilot and also had commercial, multi engine ratings flying the Departments aircraft and was very involved in the Departments aviation program. Flying the Region administrative aircraft a Cessna 337 Skymaster and the Grumman O-2, Fred also would assist in the Air Tactical Group (aka Air Attack) supervisor training that is still held in Redding.
Thoughts and prayers go out to the Family during this time of loss.