Funtastic Fire Brigade

It is with a heavy heart that Funtastic Fire honors the passing of Randolph Mantooth, best known for his iconic portrayal of paramedic John Gage on the TV show Emergency! Mantooth died on July 9 at the age of 80.

Born on September 19, 1945, in Sacramento, California, Mantooth was the oldest of four children. His father was Cherokee and Seminole, while his mother was of German and English descent. The family moved frequently because of his father’s construction engineering work. He discovered his passion for acting through student productions while attending San Marcos High School. After studying at Santa Barbara City College, he earned a scholarship to New York City’s American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where he received the prestigious Charles Jehliger Award, one of the Academy’s highest acting honors.

Johnny Gage was the goofy, charming, and highly dedicated paramedic assigned to Squad 51 of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. When the series debuted in 1972, there were only 13 paramedic units in the entire United States. The show popularised the concept of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and inspired generations of viewers to become real-life EMTs and paramedics, including our owner here at FFB. The show's profound social impact was recognized when its memorabilia and equipment were officially inducted into the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History.

The guys at Elite Mobile RV Repair LLC are really "Rockin' the Rescue" as we continue the Party Squad effort. Today is was all about the foam system install, mounting the additional hardware, and getting the roof and interior ready for the AC install and final.prep for Daytona next month.