During his 28-year career in the fire service, he has been able to serve in various capacities and develop many major projects. Upon being hired with the LACoFD, Burton was introduced to the Stentorians; an organization of African American Fire Service professionals that is open to all that choose to join. It was founded in Los Angeles in 1954. Burton currently serves as an instructor at the Carl Holmes Executive Development Institute that is held annually on the campus of Clark-Atlanta University in Atlanta, Ga.  He is the creator and director of the Stentorians’ Junior Fire Cadet Program that targets elementary school students in the areas of self-determination, discipline, career readiness and physical fitness. Burton lectures on the history of African Americans in the Fire Service.  He conducts presentations on how to become a firefighter, disaster preparedness awareness and he has served as a motivational speaker for youngsters of all ages.

Presented at the African American Firefighter Museum on March 19, 2023.

Funding has been provided by California Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.