Taylor

The single issue in this case is whether the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (hereafter Board) properly refused to grant the claimant Wilbur Taylor (hereafter Taylor) the benefit of a stat utory presumption of industrial cause of his heart disease. We conclude that the Board erred, and we annul its decision.

I

Taylor worked from 1962 until 1980 as a heavy fire equipment operator for the State Department of Forestry. Generally, his job involved operation and some maintenance of bulldozers, for the purposes of fire control and forest protection and conservation. Taylor testified that the job engaged him primarily in “pioneering and building roads and maintenance of roads, ...” The roads were used both as logging and fire roads.

During his 18 years’ service Taylor was called to work at fire sites about 12 times and was called upon to deliver equipment to fire sites on 6 or 8 other occasions. His work at the fire sites consisted of using the bulldozer to cut fire lines, i.e., to remove vegetation along a wide line around the fire, such that the fire could not cross it. On these occasions Taylor worked “[ajround the clock” or “[ujntil relieved.” He was exposed to smoke…