Battalion Chief Robert Stone died in a plane crash last week while fighting a wildland blaze
By Sarah Jimenez
Fresno Bee (California)
Copyright 2006 McClatchy Newspapers, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
VISALIA, Calif. — A local California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighter killed in a plane crash last week was remembered Tuesday as a devoted family man.
Nearly 2,000 people filled the Visalia First Assembly of God Church to remember Robert Paul Stone, 36, of Visalia, during a funeral service.
Stone, a Tulare unit CDF battalion chief, and his pilot, DynCorp International employee George “Sandy” Willett, 52, of Hanford, were killed Sept. 6 when the plane they were in crashed on a ridge in the Mountain Home State Forest north of Balch Park.
The men were in a CDF-owned scout plane directing firefighters around a small wildland fire in the Tulare County mountains.
CDF investigators with National Transportation Safety Board training are investigating the incident.
Stone worked for 18 years with CDF. He leaves behind a wife and two children, ages 8 and 4.
More than 70 firetrucks from departments across the state lined Akers Road, south of Caldwell Avenue, near the church. The street was closed to traffic from noon to 4 p.m. from Caldwell to Avenue 276.
Firetruck lights flashed, and a U.S. flag hung between the extended ladders of trucks from Tulare County and Visalia fire departments.
Representatives from the various departments saluted a procession of about 30 vehicles that began in Exeter carrying Stone’s family and co-workers as they pulled into the church parking lot shortly before the 2 p.m. service.
A color guard unit and more than a hundred firefighters lined the front of the church as Stone’s family entered the building.
Although reporters were not allowed inside the church, portions of the service could be heard through outdoor speakers.
Stan Machado, a CDF Tulare unit battalion chief, said he was the incident commander the day Stone and Willett’s plane crashed. He said he and Stone had a conversation just before the crash that he’ll never forget.
“The only comfort I have is knowing he was doing a job he loved dearly,” Machado said.
One of the most touching moments Tuesday came as Stone’s family left the church; the father’s firefighter helmet was placed on the head of his son, Wil.
After the service, people gathered outside the church for nearly an hour and shared stories about Stone.
CDF Tulare Unit Chief Ed Wristen said he had known Stone since he was a rookie with his son, Visalia Fire Department Battalion Chief Danny Wristen, at the CDF academy.
Wristen said he promoted Stone three times during his CDF career -- most recently as a battalion chief a few months ago.
“It’s like losing a son,” Wristen said.
Wristen said Stone was “first and foremost” a good husband and father. He was also a dedicated and skillful firefighter.
“He had a tremendous amount of integrity,” he said. “He could energize a room just by walking in.”
Spencer Jensen of Three Rivers grew up with Stone. Jensen said the two spent a lot of time together hunting.
Getting through the funeral Tuesday was difficult, Jensen said, but he enjoyed seeing all the people Stone touched.
“Rob brought the good out of everyone today. He brought out memories,” he said.
Kristen Winder of Temecula didn’t know Stone but attended the funeral because her husband is a member of a CDF air attack unit out of Hemet in Riverside County.
“The fire department is a big extended family, not just statewide, nationwide ... even worldwide,” she said. “It’s awful when someone so young leaves the family.”
A funeral Mass and memorial service for Willett are scheduled for today. The memorial service will be at noon at the Kings County Fairgrounds, 801 S. 10th Ave. in Hanford, and is open to the public.