By PETER DAY
Senior Reporter
Ben Van Wyk knew his calling even as a fresh-faced adolescent.
He became a fire explorer while still a student at Apple Valley Junior High School and was formally hired before receiving his high school diploma.
But the 52-year-old Van Wyk, who for 32 years has been the face of the Lucerne Valley Fire Department (now San Bernardino County Fire Station 8), is hanging up his fire hat and protective gear and retiring.
During his last shift Friday, well-wishers called or dropped by Station 8 to say goodbye. Jan Miller, whose late husband Allen Miller was one of the first firefighters at the fire station in the mid-1960s, gave Van Wyk a hug.
“I’m gonna miss him,” Miller said. “He knows the area. He knows where everything is.”
Van Wyk's boss, Battalion Chief Chris Norton, said that Van Wyk's knowledge of the town has earned him the nickname, The Mayor of Lucerne Valley.
"Ben has worked in Lucerne for as long as I can remember, and I've been in the fire service for 30 years," Norton said. "Ben was always been our go to advisor for the area because of the strong ties and connections he has in the valley. I have never met a more dedicated individual in terms of service delivery to his beloved community."
HIRED AS A HIGH SCHOOLER
Van Wyk became a fire explorer as a junior high school student in 1978. The 1983 Apple Valley High School graduate was hired part-time the year before graduation.
“You didn’t need a high school diploma to get a job back then.”
His first hands-on firefighter position was as paid-call. Then he was hired full time.
“I’ve gone up through the ranks.”
Although ascending through the ranks came relatively easy for the tall, blue-eyed Van Wyk, he made a decision that put a ceiling on promotions.
“I wanted to stay on an engine company.”
That choice meant he wouldn’t be considered for a battalion chief, assistant chief or higher position.
Van Wyk also decided to never leave the town he served since he began in 1982.
“I chose to stay here in Lucerne Valley, knowing the community.”
And, frankly, he was never enamored by a larger, hyper-fast service area such as Victorville.
“I don’t need 30 calls a day to be happy.”
Van Wyk remembers may happy-ending moments, but one of the saddest incidents occurred on Oct. 22, 1993, when station firefighter Christopher Rutledge was killed while transporting his own great-aunt to the hospital.
“The incident happened right in front of me,” Van Wyk said. “My own firefighter dying right there.”
The single-vehicle also claimed the life of Rutledge’s relative. A nearby memorial serves as a reminder.
Another memorable service call hit even closer to home — literally.
The Willow Fire started on a Friday in August of 1999, a few miles north of Lake Arrowhead. But the flames ate up a lot of land, eventually making their way to Apple Valley — where Van Wyk and his family of six make their home in the Marianas.
He worked to save other structures, but couldn’t make sure his own family and home were safe. Finally after hearing that his home may have been lost, Van Wyk’s supervisor gave him the go-head to leave his shift and check on his family.
When he arrived, his home and family were safe. With the good news, Van Wyk wanted to head back out to help others but couldn’t because he had clocked out of his shift.
“To be a fireman you’d rather be there than miss it (the action),” he said. “You don’t want an incident, but you want to be on the call. I don’t want to work overtime to pay bills. I want to come and help out in an incident.”
STRIKE TEAM SERVICE
Besides going out on garden-variety service calls, the former Lucerne Valley Station used to be dispatched as a strike team for regional disasters. Van Wyk and others from the station were sent to help out with victims of the Northridge Earthquake, the Los Angeles Riots following the acquittal of police offers charged in the beating of Rodney King, and assisting with local access following the Landers quake. He also helped design and draw plans for Station 8 renovations as the facility expanded.
Through the years, Van Wyk has done what he can to help foster interest in firefighting among young people. He has been involved in Fire Explorer Post 150, which helped fuel his passion for a career as a first responder. He also works with the Lucerne Valley Community Emergency Response Team and the local Household Hazardous Waste drop-off events.
“I enjoy working at this station and getting to know the community,” he said.
But one thing that played a role in his decision to retire was a policy change that has firefighters cover an additional shift at another station following their regular shifts.
“That’s been taxing,” he said.
When Van Wyk’s final shift ended last Saturday morning, he went home to his wife, Tammy, and kids, two of whom are still being home schooled.
“We want to take care of our family, our home.”
But he's not done answer calls for service to help others.
“We’re Born Again Christians,” Van Wyk said. “We’re really involved in our little church family.”
Last weekend, Van Wyk, a deacon at his church, attended several meetings to discuss ways he and his wife could build and expand other nearby ministries, ways he could roll up his sleeve and get to work.
“We want to work in areas where the gospel of Jesus can go out.”