Page 112 - History of the Colton Fire Department

Top:
The Bluecut Fire in June of 2002. Col-
ton’s OES unit (Office of Emergency Serv-
ices) found a safe zone outside of an or-
chard. Captain Don Benfield, Engineer
Roger Entwistle and Firefighter Dennis
Bickers was in a strike steam as the huge
fire lengths were rapidly approaching.
The strike team was in the orchard and
Captain Benfield recognized an escape
route to the rear and radioed the others
to follow. There was a breakdown in com-
munications and they became separated
by smoke. OES 221 continued to the safe
zone and waited but none of the engines
had heard the radio traffic. After the fire
storm had passed OES 221 returned to
where the other units had taken a stance.
There was a couple engines with burnt
and melted parts along with the Battalion
Chiefs grill to her SUV.

Bottom left:
In the early 1990’s Colton had a group of
volunteers from within the ranks and of-
fice personnel and they called themselves
the Flamebusters. Phoenix Arizona had a
public education group called “Tiller and
Friends”. Colton put together what little
talent they had and attempted to emulate
what Phoenix was so successful at. The
Flamebusters would sing and dance to
music that was created to teach kids about
fire safety. During Fire Prevention week
they would tour every school in Colton
and get many request throughout San Ber-
nardino and Riverside.
L/R, & T/B, Ron Wolfley, Cliff Marks, Don
Rountree, Chris Walters and his son, Tim
Bradfield, Rhonda Curtis, Dennis Bickers,
Heather McDonald, Coy Floyd and Tony
Horn.

right; This shield was worn by Dennis Bickers that was know
as the “Flame Jumper” and was hand made by Tony Horn, as
112 was their clown shields - “Back” and “Draft”.