Page 19 - History of the Colton Fire Department

1894 for the department were also ordered at a cost of fifty
In December Chief Bagley approved that there cents each for a total of $12.25. The secretary ordered 24
would be a phone put in the Firemen’s room as long as badges for the department.
there was no cost to the association.

1895
Communication came from Redlands Fire De- The first
partment in regards to forming a Southern California Colton Fire Department
Fireman’s Association. Chief Bagley and two delegates fireman Badge.
were sent from Colton to the convention which was held
in San Bernardino on May 6, 1895. This could have been
the first organization of California Firefighters that later
turned into the California State Firefighters Association
of today that was originally organized in 1922.
Ice cream has always been a Firemen’s treat and
C. B. Hamilton was the first on Colton’s record to have
paid his debt to the department in ice cream. Hamilton 1896
had put his application in for fireman in hopes to get the An electric light placed in the apparatus room.
next slot but George Bond’s name came up first and was The Department was 24 members strong and
elected as a member of the Department. Hamilton was could take no new members unless there was a vacan-
asked if he would consider filling the next vacancy. Ice cy. In March, E. H. Emery turned in his resignation as a
cream doesn’t always help but it doesn’t hurt. member of the Department and there were several people
On July 2nd, it was voted to join the Southern on a list for the volunteer position. There must have been
California Fireman’s Association. something special about 24 year old Al U’Ren, because
One member of the Department was also appoint- there was a rule (unknown rule, Log notation) that pro-
ed as Fire Marshal. He would inspect the city and give hibited him to be a member. This rule was suspended
recommendations and complaints to the city trustees, (per original Log details) and other nominees were by-
such as the use of loose hay bales being placed around passed in order to elect Al U’Ren as a member of the
the city. Colton Fire Department. (Continued in 1911)
On September 30 a fire
was called in at 2:30 p.m. at the
Wells Fargo building at the rail-
road crossing. The fire had gained
much headway prior to arrival due
to strong winds blowing from the
west. Because of low water pres-
sure the department could do very
little towards saving the building.
The department did a great job in
saving the platform and surround-
ing buildings. However, the Wells
Fargo building was a total loss.
As an incentive to encour-
age a quicker response to fires, the
Department would pay for the first
team or express wagon that ar-
rives at the department and takes
the apparatus to the scene, fifty
cents for each hose cart and hook
& ladder truck. The first badges
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