Vallejo, CA…USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region (Region 5) mourns the passing of two of our agency’s “family members” and heroes in the firefighting community –Allen Johnson and Marcus Pacheco. Losing any member of our Forest Service family is a heartbreak for each one of us – let alone two in a week. Words cannot express the sorrow felt across the federal firefighting community, and for the loved ones and friends of these two men.

Allen Johnson dedicated over 40 years of his life working throughout Region 5 to the Forest Service mission and was working to protect life and property during this unprecedented fire year at the time of his passing.

Allen worked for many years on the Stanislaus National Forest, spending most of his career on the Groveland Ranger District. He led out on fire and fuels management – and continued to make a difference with many years of service through the local firesafe council and other community efforts throughout his retirement. He continued to be part of fire suppression after retirement through his role on an Incident Management Team. Allen was known as a mentor and friend for any that had the opportunity to cross paths with him. He was best known as a giver and a leader, both personally and professionally. Allen was loved and respected by all who knew him.

Marcus Pacheco dedicated his life to firefighting and served the Forest Service and other agencies in working to protect all Californians during this unprecedented fire year.

Marcus served for thirty years of firefighting in many roles for multiple agencies.

He currently has been working with the Forest Service as an Assistant Fire Engine Operator on the Almanor while also assuming the role of Training Officer for the Standish-Litchfield Fire Protection District. He was very active in the Forest Service and the community at large. From school education programs to fighting fire, Marcus always showed up and lent a hand. Marcus will be mourned by all that knew and cared for him.
No further details are available at this time on their passing.

The Forest Service manages 18 National Forests in the Pacific Southwest Region, which encompasses over 20 million acres across California, and assists State and Private forest landowners in California, Hawaii and the U.S.

Affiliated Pacific Islands. National forests supply 50 percent of the water in California and form the watershed of most major aqueducts and more than 2,400 reservoirs throughout the state. For more information, visit www.fs.usda.gov/R5.
###