Bill Clayton, a wildland firefighting expert who saved countless lives and entire towns during a career that spanned 50 years, died Sunday at the age of 77 of natural causes at his home in Carlsbad.
"He was a legend in the fire service," said lifelong friend and recently retired Cal Fire Battalion Chief Ray Chaney.
"You'd be driving up to this giant atomic bomb-looking column of smoke, be a little nervous or have that sense of apprehension, and then you'd hear Bill's voice on the radio: 'Monte Vista division thirty-three zero seven responding' in his gruff, low-tone voice," Chaney said.