Page 100 - History of the Colton Fire Department

truck in service. Remember, that this 1943 ladder truck
was converted by the men of the Colton Fire Department
from an engine in the 1950’s. It was an excellent way
to test your fear of heights because when the ladder was
extended, the entire ladder would toss and sway as you
climbed to the top. When you reached the tip of the 50
foot ladder, you would attach the safety belt to the rung to
ride out the wave.
Chief Temby was able to meet the tight budget
in the 1950’s and 60’s by utilizing what he could from
the military surplus. With tighter regulations and OSHS
requirements in place by the 70’s and 80’s the surplus
days were over. Regulations and requirements set forth

Top: In 1983 after the purchase of the American LeFrance 75’ Ladder Truck.
Above: The first out and reserve units of 1981. 2-5 ton Water Tenders 1969 & 1973, 2 Crowns 1957 & 1961 (reserves),
431 (Station 1) - 1981 American LeFrance and 432 (Station 2) 1970 Pioneer.
seats. This also would mean that no one could ride the
in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 1901), tail board either; everyone would need to be seat belted in
Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus were adopted by the enclosed cab. Before this safety rule was applied, I
Colton. It was not long before safety films that displyaed can remember riding on the tailboard of the water tenders
the catastrophic failure of aerial ladder trucks started to to and from brush fires. We had a safety strap that went
pop up that would make the urgency even more appar- around our waist but the tailboard was like a trampoline
ent. In 1983 we purchased an American LeFrance 75’ when you hit a dip.
Aerial. All of our fire engines had open air seating for Usually the Fire Department was first on scene
the firefighter jump seats until the 1990’s when Colton in their district; ahead of the ambulance and able to pro-
purchased the Beck with a fully inclosed cab. The open vide advanced life support (ALS). The ambulance would
jump seats were restricted by manufacturers after several soon arrive with their Paramedic and EMT for additional
accounts of firefighters not being seat belted properly and support to accelerate the process and transport the patient
falling from the unit while in motion. One case particu- to the most appropriate Hospital in the shortest amount of
lar where a female firefighter stood briefly to slide into time. The citizens of Colton or anyone passing through
her bunkers and fell from the unit as it was pulling from Colton were the customers and primary concern of the
the apron. She was run over by her own fire engine. Colton Fire Department. So after treatment at the site of
NFPA 1901 made recommendations that all fire injury, we would accompany the patient with the ambu-
100 units shall be fully enclosed to their personnel. lance medic to the hospital to maximize their care. There
These units were our last to have open air jump