Page 15 - History of the Colton Fire Department

There was also a concern that members would be tees over buying a cart for the ladders verses a hook and
absent at fires or required meetings, leaving the company ladder rig that was made to carry fire equipment. A cou-
shorthanded. Mr. Bagley offered the following amend- ple months later the city gave their commitment to Chief
ment to the bylaws, “It shall be the duty of any member Walin and ordered the hook and ladder outfit for $450.
to receive a leave of absence, shall furnish a substitute ap- They would pay half on December 1, 1891 and the re-
proved by the company chief or prudent during the term maining half on December 1, 1892. By dividing the pay-
of his absence and if though neglect substitute is not fur- ments out over a year, Chief Walin was able to purchase
nished, said member will be dropped from Company.” the equipment that would fit his needs and fit within the
Chief Walin was instructed to build 2 ladders to budget.
save cost, one at 24 feet and the other at 32 feet. Then the Whenever there was a fire, an immediate need for
chief was instructed to find a cart to pull the ladders, for a good water supply was important. The more people that
as little money as possible. Chief Walin had researched used the water in their homes and businesses, the lower
and presented the cost and benefits to the Board of Trus- the hydrant pressure got. Chief Walin brought this to the
attention of the city and therefore adopted Ordinance #88
on July 13, 1891 that forbid the use of water during a fire.
There was also water troughs added in strategic locations
with water connections.
On Monday July 20th 1891 Mr. Bagley intro-
duced and passed that the company divided the city into
fire wards for the purpose of better organizing and im-
proved emergency response. The lack of railroad cross-
ings made it difficult to navigate so Mr. Bagley divided
the city area into 7 wards.

To the left are 7 Wards as their response zones. The drawing below
indicates the Northern half of Colton as it was in 1902 starting with
J street at the bottom.

The I-10 Freeway now runs east and west where this Train Station was. 15