Denton “Denny” Bungarz: Mendocino National Forest’s Former Forest Aviation and Staff Officer

Denny Bungarz
at the Yellowstone Fire in 1988. [Photo from Mendocino National Forest]

It is with a heavy heart that the Mendocino National Forest announces the loss of former Forest Aviation and Staff Officer Denton “Denny” Bungarz who passed away June 25, 2020. Denny came to the Mendocino in 1978 and retired in December 1989. Altogether, he gave the USDA Forest Service 37 years of committed service.

Denny’s Forest Service career started in 1955 with a 10-month appointment at the Trinity National Forest. In 1958, he served as a prevention technician at the Hayden Flat Guard Station. He had ideas about becoming a smokejumper but never pursued that career. He graduated from Humboldt State in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree in forestry.

The next year, Denny and his family moved to the Plumas National Forest where he worked as a district resource advisory. He also became qualified as an air attack supervisor or (spotter) for the north region in addition to obtaining his personal pilot’s license.

From the Plumas, Denny’s career took him to the Los Padres National Forest in 1973 and he was promoted to the District Ranger of the Santa Barbara District. He had a fond friendship with Ronald Reagan during his time on the Los Padres.

Then in 1978, he moved to the Mendocino National Forest where he served as the Forest Aviation and Staff Officer (now known as Forest Fire & Aviation Management Officer). While on the Mendocino, he was instrumental in introducing and developing the aerial ignition program, not only to the forest and the region, but also to the rest of the lower 48 states. Aerial ignitions (or helitorch) were first used on the Mendocino in 1979.

Denny took his leadership skills to a new level when he was selected as an Incident Commander for the California Team 4 Incident Management Team in 1987. He demonstrated his extensive incident management skills in the summers of 1987 (Siege of 87 fires) and 1988 on the Yellowstone Fire where he was one of many Type 1 Incident Commanders.

After retiring, Denny was hired to develop the National Wildfire Apprentice Program in 1990. The Forest Service assumed this program in 1997. Denny remained an integral part of this program and was invited to speak at some of the graduations including the one from which his soon-to-be stepdaughter Shilo Springstead graduated.

Denny Bungarz

In addition to his illustrious Forest Service career, Denny made a huge mark within the community of Willows in Glenn County. He was elected to the Willows City Council, served on the Glenn County Board of Supervisors, was the co-founder of the Westside Domestic Violence Shelter and helped obtain funding through the Glenn County Rural Conservation District for needed projects in the community and within the Mendocino National Forest.

Denny is survived by his wife Judi Bungarz, daughter Joyce Trammel, son Doug Bungarz, brothers Bob and George Bungarz, four stepchildren, eight grandchildren, nine step grandchildren, four step great grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren. A celebration of life will be planned in the future. Any donations in the name of Denny Bungarz can be made to Willows Auxiliary, Wildland Firefighter Foundation or the National Museum of Forest Service History.

The passing of Denton (Denny) Bungarz is a tremendous loss for the Forest Service and the community. He will be sorely missed.