(Left) Ryan Monteleone Excavation, Inc.’s new Cat D6R Fire Dozer purchased from Johnson Machinery. (Above) Ryan Monteleone, Owner, Ryan Monteleone Excavation, Inc.

Written By: Brian Hoover Working everyday as a bulldozer Fire’s bulldozer training program located fighting fire with fire. After all fires are and excavator owner/operator is at the Clark Training Center in Riverside, extinguished, the dozer operator is tough work. Now try doing it while California. Applicants come from both then called upon to rehabilitate the surrounded by a blazing California the fire service and the construction previously bulldozed areas to protect wildfire. This is exactly what Ryan industry. Crews and individuals from against mudslides. Here dozers are Monteleone does for approximately all over California must become certified utilized along with excavators to 30 to 60 days each year. He and his and then renew their certification every cleanup and move debris for both two other operators sit confidently year. This intense training is necessary cosmetic and erosion control purposes. behind an enclosed cab, with almost due to the obvious dangers associated Ryan Monteleone of Ryan Monteleone zero visibility, protected only by fire with this trade. Like with any firefighter, Excavation, Inc. further explains his curtains. Much of wildfire confinement serious injury or death is always an interesting niche further, “We are can be attributed to heavy machine ongoing concern. These men and contracted through the U.S. Forestry operators like Ryan Monteleone, who women are called on by the California Service and CAL Fire as Fire Ready can work at preventing wildfires at an Department of Forestry to protect Bull Dozer operators. When called astounding 1,000 yards an hour. over 31-million acres of California’s upon, we either meet up with the Crawler dozers are often dispatched, private-owned wildlands. Firefighters, State to pickup their specially equipped as the first line of defense and CAL fire engines, heavy machinery and dozers or we bring our own certified Fire’s bulldozer operators are a vital aircraft respond to an average of 5,600 dozers directly to the fire to be tool in that they are used to cut dirt wildland fires that burn more than utilized as an initial attack detail. This lines around wildfires. 172,000 acres on average each year. year has been fairly quiet, but in Having the ability to operate a crawler In addition to plowing fire lines and 2009 we were called out to Mariposa dozer is just one of the many skills that firebreaks, dozer operators also work to fight a fire that was heading a dozer firefighter must have. He must at cutting contingency lines around towards Yosemite National Park. We also be able to operate his approximately towns and housing communities in spent three weeks there and then 35 to 45 ton machine on unstable areas where the fire is simply another 60-days that year fighting soil or rocky landscapes, all while approaching too fast. The firefighters the station fire in Los Angeles. In pushing brush and debris at grades can then start a back-burn in the area 2008, we spent 45-days at the Chico of up to 75 degrees. To even be between the contingency lines and fire. The 12 to 24-hour shifts are considered, they must attend CAL the fire to eclipse the inferno, effectively grueling, but I truly enjoy the work.” 20 2010 owner/operator issue CALCONTRACTOR www.calcontractor.com (Above & Below) Ryan Monteleone and other Fire Ready Bull Dozer Operators are called on by the California Department of Forestry to protect over 31-million acres of California’s private-owned wildlands. They respond to an average of 5,600 wildland fires that burn more than 172,000 acres on average each year.

When not getting called out on Mike and I to operate equipment at a has become very diverse and I take fires, Ryan is kept busy grading house very young age. We did everything any work I can get, anywhere in the pads, doing underground utility work from underground utility and septic state of California. Most of my work or even an occasional septic tank. He system work, to custom house pads however remains in and around has an annual contract with the City and work in and around track home Temecula and Murrieta. For instance, of Temecula that keeps him busy developments. My dad decided to we are going to be in San Diego next performing everything from street retire around 10 years ago so that he week grading and installing a silt maintenance to channel cleanup and and my mom could pursue a wedding basin and the Geogrid keystone walls erosion control. Ryan’s brother, Mike and special events business at their that go with it. Normally, we don’t get Monteleone Jr. works with him when ranch in Murrietta called Monteleone involved with material construction, needed, as does his friend, Clay Borel. Meadows. They have 25 acres of but these days we happily get off of Both men are also certified Fire land and a great indoor and outdoor our tractors and do what it takes to Ready Bull Dozer Operators and work facility where they cater to weddings, survive. I do have expansion plans with Ryan fighting fires as well. corporate events and other occasions. that include adding more machinery Like so many other California My older brother and I took over the and operators after these hard times owner/operators, Ryan learned from construction business and we worked subside. The equipment operating his father. Mike Monteleone Sr. started full time together until things started business has been good to me over his company, Monteleone Excavating to really slow down a few years ago. the years and I plan on sticking back in the 70’s as an owner/operator My brother Mike decided to start his around to see what the future holds.” working primarily with a small dozer own marketing company and I received Ryan Monteleone Excavation and a skip loader. Ryan grew up in my A Contractors License and changed primarily relies on Caterpillar the business and comments, “I worked the name of the company to Ryan equipment and they own a Cat D8N with my dad during summers and Monteleone Excavation, Inc. Today dozer, a Cat D8K dozer and a new after high school. He taught my brother with the sluggish economy, my work Cat D6R dozer. In addition they own

www.calcontractor.com 2010 owner/operator issue CalContractor 21 (Above Left) Ryan Monteleone Excavation, Inc.’s Cat 247 track skid steer. (Right) Ryan Monteleone operating his Hitachi EC200 excavator. and operate a Cat 247 track skid friends with co-owner, Hayden Porter they have it to me the next day. I just steer and a Hitachi EC200 excavator. when he first came to town and built can’t say enough about Heavy Ryan has this to say about his a personal and working relationship Equipment Rentals, their crew and equipment fleet, “I purchased most of with him. Then I met his brother Kent their equipment.” our equipment from Johnson Porter and we also became good For more information on Ryan Machinery, our local Cat dealer, with friends. As a matter of fact our wives Monteleone Excavation, Inc. and their the exception of the Hitachi are also good friends and spend a lot services, call 951-538-6537. excavator, which we bought from of time together. HER has a huge To learn more about CAL Fire and Heavy Equipment Rentals out of variety of late model, well maintained the California Department of Forestry, Corona. Heavy Equipment Rentals top name brand equipment, as well please visit has really helped grow and sustain as outstanding customer service. www.fire.ca.gov/about/about.php. Cc my business over the years. I became When I call up and need a machine, (Left) Ryan Monteleone Excavation, Inc. relies on Heavy Equipment Rentals, Inc. in Corona and Los Angeles for all of their heavy equipment rental needs.

22 2010 owner/operator issue CALCONTRACTOR www.calcontractor.com