Ranger's work fulfills a dream from childhood

Steve Abbott always knew he would find a career that kept him outside.

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Jim Blaylock/Staff

Georgia Forestry Chief Ranger Senior Steve Abbott has worked 27 years in forestry and helps fight wildfires around the country.

"When I was a kid, my dream in life was to be a forest ranger or a game warden -- and forestry came open first," he said.

This year, the 51-year-old Martinez man is celebrating his 27th year of service to the Georgia Forestry Commission, most recently as chief ranger senior for Columbia and Richmond counties.

"The way it starts out, you have to have a great interest in forestry, or outdoor resources," he said. "My family, all the Abbotts, are outdoors people who like hunting and fishing."

What does he do?

"A forest ranger is a wildland firefighter with other duties as assigned," he said.

Those duties can include education, administration, travel, equipment operation and much more.

Using education to prevent forest fires is often as important as using manpower, strategy and technology to extinguish them.

"My first Western firefighting trip was in 1985, and I've made one to two trips per year ever since then," he said. "I've been to every Western state except Utah and Nevada, and all over the Southeast, too."

Would he choose the same career again? Absolutely.

"What I tell kids is, forestry is so diverse, that if you don't want to fight fire, there are insects and tree diseases, weather, management of timber, education -- all kinds of things."

Reach Rob Pavey at (706) 868-1222, ext. 119, or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.