My work experience with fire trucks began in the summer of 1976 in Oakdale, at Van Pelt Fire Trucks, which was later bought by FMC.  My career started by working in the body shop fabricating bodies.  After six months I was transferred to the electrical department for six months.  

I worked the following six months in the plumbing department learning to plumb the fire trucks.  I was transferred back to the body shop where my brother Ken was working at the time.  We were now both fabricating fire truck bodies in the body shop.  My next promotion was to shop supervisor in charge of all the personnel in the shop, at which time was about forty employees.  

My final promotion at FMC was to the Engineering and Purchasing Department.  My duties included purchasing, management, and running the engineering department.  After FMC closed Van Pelt in Oakdale, I moved into another field of work for a short time before my brother Ken asked me to go to work with him at another fire truck shop.  After a couple of years Ken and I decided that we should start a business of our own.  We opened Burton’s Fire Apparatus on January 11, 1991.  The business was incorporated in 2005 and became Burton’s Fire, Inc.  We have grown to 20 employees.

I am married with two daughters. My wife is a registered nurse in Modesto for the past 22 years. My oldest daughter is graduating from Chico State with a degree in Business Information System along with a minor in Marketing and Spanish. In the fall she will be working for Chevron at the headquarters in San Ramon. My youngest daughter is also attending Chico State and is completing here first year. Her future plans are to be a Special Education Teacher.

 I enjoy spending time with family and friends, whether it’s camping, fishing, jeeping or spending time in the mountains or at the ocean.  One hobby I really enjoy is taking pictures of friends and family during all the good times!

 

John's stress relief get away

Enjoying the beauty at the cabin

Local friend hanging out

Enjoying a beer at McDonald in Alacante, Spain

Nothing but the best wine from my wife while visiting Spain

Ken Helping Out His Little Brother

John’s Hobby, Photography Rim Tail Labor Day 2005

Rim Trail Labor Day 2005 Keeping All Four Wheels on the Ground

John’s Hobby,  Photography Rim trail, First Time Driver

Ken’s Jeep White 1987 CJ, John’s Jeep Yellow 2000 Wrangler

Oregon fishing trip: From left to right:  Chuck Milanowski, Bob Cobb (our guide), John Burton, and  Don McAnally.  We were on a sturgeon fishing trip on the Umpqua River in Oregon. Note:  our fishing guide has his helmet on for protection.

The Oakdale Swim Team BBQ Crew: Bill Flanagan , Phil Fischer (my father-in-law) and John Burton  The BBQ crew served over 200 breakfast burritos during the morning, then BBQ and served 400 New York steak and chicken sandwiches for lunch and dinner.  This all took place during the Oakdale Rotary Invitational Swim Meet in Oakdale. There were over 650 swimmers at this swim meet from five different cities.

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