Longtime Calif. firefighter, media source retires

By Felix Doligosa Jr.
The Bakersfield Californian

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Enlisted as an Air Force jet engine mechanic in the late 1970s, Doug Johnston was called to enter his basic training supervisor's office.

The mechanic position had been filled and Johnston was told to pick a new job.

His options were a painter, asphalt applicator or crash rescue specialist — otherwise known as firefighter.

He quickly chose firefighter.

Johnston would turn that unexpected job switch into a 20-year career battling fires with the Kern County Fire Department as a captain and public information officer. He retired in October.

"I kind of fell into it (firefighting)," he said.

In 1987, Johnston joined the Kern County Fire Department. He was a part of the hazardous team at the Landco station in west Bakersfieldand worked at other stations such as in Keene and in north Bakersfield.

"He is a guy you can depend on," Kern County Fire Department Capt. Benny Wofford said about Johnston. "Doug worked hard every day since he came into the door."

In 1997, Johnston began working in the Kern County Fire Marshal's office and worked as a public information officer, tasked with relaying information from an incident to the media.

With two cell phones and a pager on him at all times, Johnston answered media questions at odd hours.

"I'm not going to miss getting called in the middle of the night and having someone tell me there's been another train derailment or someone lost their life in a fire," he said.