Society

Bay Area surgeon who saves children as profession also serves on front line of California wildfires

By Laura Anthony
Monday, August 31, 2020
A prominent Bay Area surgeon not only serves the community by saving children, but he is also a volunteer firefighter helping to battle the California wildfires. For Dr. James Betts, it's a dedication to service that dates back decades.
SAN FRANCISCO -- A prominent Bay Area surgeon is also serving on the front lines, battling California's wildfires. For Dr. James Betts, it's a dedication to service that dates back decades.

"It's an honor and a privilege to serve," said Betts. And serve he has. Dr. Jim Betts is a pediatric surgeon by profession, who has gone above and beyond when it comes to giving back to his community.

It's a position that led him to the collapsed Cypress Structure in Oakland in the hours after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, where he not only helped rescue survivors, but also to recover the dead.
[Ads /]
"We were actually called down to the Cypress Structure for the trapped individuals who were there and a group of us went down there," explained Betts, who had to amputate a young boy's leg to save his life.

Betts' service didn't stop there. While not at Children's, he works as a volunteer firefighter, as an EMT and part of the search and rescue team in Big Sur, where he has a home.

PHOTOS: New images show scope of wildfires' devastation, as major complexes ravage state
Following the LNU Lightning Complex fires, a sign reading "Vaca Strong" adorns a charred hillside in Vacaville, Calif., on Monday, Aug. 24, 2020.none
Following the LNU Lightning Complex fires, a sign reading "Vaca Strong" adorns a charred hillside in Vacaville, Calif., on Monday, Aug. 24, 2020.none
Firefighter Cody Nordstrom takes a water break while fighting the CZU Lightning Complex Fire on Aug. 23, 2020, in Bonny Doon, Calif.none
Burned vehicles and rubble from homes are left after the CZU Lightning Complex Fire went through Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, in Boulder Creek, Calif.none
Flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires leap above Butts Canyon Road on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, as firefighters work to contain the blaze in unincorporated Lake County, Calif.none
Flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires jump Butts Canyon Rd. on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, as firefighters work to contain the blaze in unincorporated Lake County.none
Fire burns in the hollow of an old-growth redwood tree in Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Calif., Monday, Aug. 24, 2020.none
A redwood forest smolders Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Calif.none
A fallen redwood tree continues to burn Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Calif.none
Firefighter Jeremy Damon monitors a controlled burn in front of the advancing CZU August Lightning Complex Fire Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Boulder Creek, Calif.AP
An emergency vehicle goes along a smoke-filled mountain road as crews continue to fight the CZU August Lightning Complex fire Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020, in Boulder Creek, Calif.AP
Firefighter monitor the advance of the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire in the backyard of a home Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Boulder Creek, Calif.AP
A firefighter stands on top of a fire truck along Highway 9 while monitoring flames from the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020, in Boulder Creek, Calif.AP
A burned-out vehicle is left in front of a fire-ravaged residence as smoke from the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire fills the sky, Aug. 22, 2020, in Boulder Creek, Calif.AP
Firefighters protect a home in the Berryessa Estates neighborhood of unincorporated Napa County, Calif., as the LNU Lightning Complex fires burn on Friday, Aug. 21, 2020.AP
A chimney is all that is left standing at a residence after the CZU August Lightning Complex fire passed through Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020, in Boulder Creek, Calif.AP
Crews from the Boulder Creek Fire Dept. keep an eye out on a flare up from the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire along Highway 9 Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020, in Boulder Creek, Calif.AP
A firefighter gets down from a fire truck along Highway 9 while monitoring flames from the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020, in Boulder Creek, Calif.AP
Firefighters make a stand in the backyard of a home in front of the advancing CZU August Lightning Complex Fire Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Boulder Creek, Calif.AP
A California Dept. of Corrections crew builds a containment line along Highway 9 to prevent the spread of the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire, Aug. 22, 2020, in Boulder Creek.AP
A firefighter walks along Highway 9 while monitoring flames from the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020, in Boulder Creek, Calif.AP
Firefighters protect a home in the Berryessa Estates neighborhood of unincorporated Napa County, Calif., as the LNU Lightning Complex fires burn on Friday, Aug. 21, 2020.AP
Firefighters make a stand in the backyard of a home in front of the advancing CZU August Lightning Complex Fire Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Boulder Creek, Calif.AP
Flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires burn in unincorporated Napa County, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. The blaze went on to destroy multiple homes near Lake Berryessa.none
Thomas Henney, right, and Charles Chavira watch a plume spread over Healdsburg, Calif., as the LNU Lightning Complex fires burn, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020.none
A forest burns as the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire advances on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, in Bonny Doon, Calif.none
Firefighter Jeremy Damon monitors a controlled burn in the backyard of a home near the advancing CZU August Lightning Complex Fire on Aug. 21, 2020, in Boulder Creek, Calif.none
Debris is strewn in an empty swimming pool of a wildfire-ravaged home after the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire passed through Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Bonny Doon, Calif.none
A firefighter rubs his head while watching the LNU Lightning Complex fires spread through the Berryessa Estates neighborhood of unincorporated Napa County, Calif. on Aug. 21, 2020.none
Firefighters protect a home in the Berryessa Estates neighborhood of unincorporated Napa County, Calif., as the LNU Lightning Complex fires burn on Friday, Aug. 21, 2020.none
Firefighters make a stand in the backyard of a home in front of the advancing CZU August Lightning Complex Fire Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Boulder Creek, Calif.none
Solano County Community Animal Response Team volunteers Marshall Zavat, right, and Steve Hardin comfort a llama injured during the LNU Lightning Complex fires on Aug. 21, 2020.none
Flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires consume a home in unincorporated Napa County, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020.none
Charred vehicles are left behind after the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire passed through on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, in Bonny Doon, Calif.none
Peter Koleckar reacts after seeing homes burned in his neighborhood after the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire passed through on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, in Bonny Doon, Calif.none
Flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires burn around Lake Berryessa in unincorporated Napa County, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020.none
Smoke from the Carmel Fire hangs over Merk Family Vineyards near Carmel Valley, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020.none
A chimney stands at a home destroyed by the River Fire in Salinas, Calif., on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020.none
Flames from the River fire burn a fence near Salinas, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020.none
A California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighter works to save a home from the River fire near Salinas, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020.none
Smoke from wildfires obscures a view of the San Francisco skyline and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020, as seen from Oakland, Calif.none
Flames lick at the remains of a house destroyed by the River fire near Salinas, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020.none
A charred tricycle is left behind in a fire-ravaged home after the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire in Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, in Bonny Doon, Calif.none
Horses stand in an enclosure as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through the Spanish Flat community in unincorporated Napa County, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020.none
Members of the Grizzly Firefighters fight the Carmel Fire near Carmel Valley, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020.none
This shows the aftermath of the Yin Ranch Event And Conference Place from LNU Lightning Complex fire in Vacaville on Aug. 19, 2020.none
Flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires lick above a fire truck in unincorporated Napa County, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020.none
A cameraman films flames flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires in Vacaville, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020.none
Th fence of a home is burned by the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire in Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, near Bonny Doon, Calif.none
Smoke sits over downtown Boulder Creek, Calif. on Aug. 20, 2020.none
The LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through the Spanish Flat community in unincorporated Napa County, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020.none
Flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires jump Interstate 80 in Vacaville, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020.none
Inmate firefighters rest during a break from working against the River Fire in Salinas, Calif., Monday, Aug. 17, 2020.none
Flames from the River Fire crest a ridge in Salinas, Calif., Monday, Aug. 17, 2020.none
A melted interstate sign on Lyon Road in Fairfield after the LNU Lightning Complex Fire jumped I-80 on Aug. 20, 2020.none
A fire-damaged home is seen after the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire passed through on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, in Bonny Doon, Calif.none
A fire evacuee's taillight was melted as he drove through a fiery road to evacuate his home in Winters, Calif. on Aug. 19, 2020.none
A fire vehicle passes burning trees on Pleasants Valley Rd. near Winters, Calif., as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through the area on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020.none
Smoke from a wildfire fills the air over Silicon Valley in an aerial view, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020, in San Jose, Calif.none
The LNU Lightning Complex fire destroyed the Yin Ranch Event And Conference Place in Vacaville on Aug. 19, 2020.none
A fire-damaged home is seen in the Pineridge subdivision after the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire passed through on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, in Bonny Doon, Calif.none
A fire crew gathers at the Carmel Fire near Carmel Valley, Calif,. Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020.none
A mobile home and car burn at Spanish Flat Mobile Villa as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through unincorporated Napa County, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020.none
An air tanker drops retardant as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through the Spanish Flat community in unincorporated Napa County, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020.none
A helicopter carrying water to drop on the the Carmel Fire flies over Georis Winery near Carmel Valley, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020.none
Burned vehicles rest beneath a tree after the LNU Lightning Complex fires tore through Vacaville, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020.none
Bill Nichols, 84, works to save his home as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through Vacaville, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020. Nichols has lived in the home for 77 years.none
Fire crews across the region scrambled to contain dozens of blazes sparked by lightning strikes as a statewide heat wave continues.none
Fire crews across the region scrambled to contain dozens of blazes sparked by lightning strikes as a statewide heat wave continues.none
An outbuilding burns as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through the Spanish Flat area of unincorporated Napa County, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020.none
A plume rises over a vineyard in unincorporated Napa County as the Hennessey Fire burns on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020.none
A thick haze of smoke over the Bay Area on Aug. 19, 2020.none
Trees near a vineyard on Cachagua Road burn in the Carmel Fire near Carmel Valley, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020.none
Fire crews across the region scrambled to contain dozens of blazes sparked by lightning strikes as a statewide heat wave continues.none
Smoke sits over downtown Boulder Creek, Calif. on Aug. 20, 2020.none
Members of the Grizzly Firefighters fight the Carmel Fire near Carmel Valley, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020.none
Trees and a structure burn on Pleasants Valley Rd. near Winters, Calif., as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through the area on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020. Fire crews across thenone
A sign in Felton, Calif. thanks firefighters. Felton was ordered to evacuate on Aug. 20, 2020.none


His primary job for nearly four decades has been at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in Oakland.



In recent weeks, Betts also served on the front lines of the Dolan fire, one of the hundreds raging in California.

"This is a very unusual year," said Betts. "We've got COVID and the pandemic. We have the fires in Big Sur, we have our hospital duties here. We have all the political unrest that's going around the nation."

As Dr. Betts approaches his 73rd birthday, he has no plans to retire anytime soon from either job.

"I don't play golf, I don't play tennis," said Betts. "To me, it's been a privilege to be able to become a pediatric surgeon as well as a firefighter."


[Ads /]
App users: For a better experience, click here to view the full map in a new window
[Ads /]
RELATED STORIES & VIDEOS:
Report a correction or typo
Copyright © 2024 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.