Charles Edward Morton — or Charlie or even Chuck, as some call him — was, many agreed, a man with a few rough edges, particularly early in his firefighting career.
“He didn’t take guff from anyone, even me,” said his former boss, Jimmy Avila, who also noted Morton’s occasional “colorful language.”
But mourners paying tribute to the U.S. Forest Service hotshot at a memorial service Friday, Sept. 25, at the Rock Church in San Bernardino also described Morton as a highly focused firefighter who worked hard to develop and share expertise, demanded hugs instead of handshakes from his fellow crew members and was generous to coworkers.
And Morton was even a bit of a softie, a romantic who would text his fiancee that he loved her — even as he sat right next to her.
Morton, 39, a member of the Big Bear Hotshots and a firefighter for 18 years, died Sept. 17 while fighting in the San Bernardino National Forest near Angelus Oaks. The cause of death has not been given. A public announcement on the results of the investigation could take months.
“I know a lot of us have a lot of questions as to why this happened, and we may never get those answers,” said his fiancee’, Monica Tapia of Irvine. “We are here today because we have been dealt a bad card, there’s no doubt about it. But I will say I am at peace because Charlie loved what he did. He loved his job, he loved being a hotshot firefighter, he loved his mountain, he loved fighting fire without water. He was one in a million.”
I am at The Rock Church in San Bernardino, where preparations are being made for the 11 a.m. memorial service for U.S. Forest Service Big Bear Hotshots crew boss Charles Morton.
— Brian Rokos (@Brian_Rokos)
The service had all the trappings of similar memorials — fire trucks hoisting a giant American flag, firefighters and law enforcement from far-flung agencies, emotional speakers and wreaths and photos on a stage — but it was different because of COVID-19 sensibilities.
Only family members, speakers, the honor guard and assorted VIPs were allowed into the church. About 100 white chairs spaced about 6 feet apart were set up outside in front of a viewing screen. When Brent Witham, a hotshot with the Idyllwild-based Vista Grande Hotshots died in Montana in 2017, some 1,500 attended his service in San Bernardino.
Tapia and her daughter entered the church through a tunnel of first responders. She carried a reddish, rectangular box with Morton’s ashes. Her daughter walked alongside, clutching a teddy bear.
Tapia said she met Morton 10 years ago through a friend. Morton frequently gave her flowers and called just to say he loved her.
“Charlie gave me a life that some only dream of having. Charlie gave me his whole heart and I gave him mine,” she said, wiping away tears.
She recalled getting a phone call from her fiance’ the morning before he died. He said he loved her.
“He went into the field and did what he had to do. The last act was selfless. It was heroic, it was brave. … He chose to protect his mountain, he chose to protect his crew, he chose to protect his community,” Tapia said.
Firefighters and law enforcement throughout California are here.
— Brian Rokos (@Brian_Rokos)
Avila identified himself as the first Big Bear Hotshots superintendent. There are about 100 of the elite, 20-member teams nationwide that hike or are dropped into remote areas of wildfires and cut breaks just with the tools the crew members carry in.
He described Morton as someone who “never lost focus. He was a firefighter. And he strived to be the best.”
Vicki Christiansen, chief of the U.S, Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, lauded Morton for his commitment.
“He lived and worked on behalf of something greater than himself,” she said. “Charlie Morton, thank you for your bright light. May you rest in peace.”
Morton’s inquisitive nature drove him to become “a student of fire,” said Marc Stamer, District Ranger for the Mountaintop Ranger District. “He was fun to work with, crazy at times, but beloved by his community.”
In 2018, Morton was recognized as Hotshot of the year with the Mill Creek Hotshots, Stamer said.
Morton participated in a bicycle drive so underprivileged kids would have wheels. But his generosity went beyond that.
A coworker’s child once needed money to pay for a school activity. So he hired her to clean his house — even though it was already nearly spotless. And he gave a car to a coworker who was short of money, Stamer said.
“I believe Charlie performed these random acts of kindness because … he valued the community of the Forest Service,” Stamer said.
Allen Morton said his brother graduated from Ocean Shores High in Oceanside on an accelerated track.
“Chuck was a lot of things to a lot of people,” Allen Morton said. “I don’t want my brother to ever be forgotten.”
The service concluded with traditional honors.
Flags were presented to family members, and an honor guard rang a bell nine times as a symbolic last call.
Then, a Forest Service dispatcher unsuccessfully tried to raise Morton on the radio, twice calling out “Big Bear One Charlie, San Bernardino?” There was no response.
The dispatcher added: “This is a last call for fallen firefighter Charles Edward Morton. We would like to thank you for your dedication and your sacrifices made for the community. San Bernardino acknowledges fallen firefighter Charles Edward Morton is out of service. Godspeed and farewell.”
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