Page 27 - History of the Colton Fire Department

We are installing our system here in connection with the gate sales of $118.75 went to the fire department and
the circuit of the Home Tel. Co. (automatic). It operates on the holder of the “lucky ticket” was presented with a do-
the circuits of the telephone company and can furnish a sys- nated watch.
tem that will give results and cost the city much less than you 1914
could install your own system and maintain it. For instance, Members of the department contacted the Ho-
we can furnish a street box, install and maintain at $30.00 tel Anderson to serve the firemen and their wives a six
per year per box. The residence box we install and maintain
at $6.00 per year or 50 cents per month. While single stations course supper for $1.00 per plate to be held on April 7,
in business houses cost $1.00 per month. There is no delay in 1914 at 8:00 p.m... An invitation would be sent to the
sending the alarm on our system as all that is necessary is to city trustees and their wives to attend the banquet with
break the small glass in the front of the box and push the but- the firemen. The entertaining committee was allowed two
ton. The number of the box and its location is recorded at the extra plates in order to secure outside talent.
Fire Headquarters in 15 seconds. We will furnish a register Members of the department were called for a spe-
and gong at the Fire Headquarters at our own expense. The cial meeting to hear a report from the carnival commit-
fire requisite is to make a contact with the telephone company tee. It was discussed that the membership join with the
to use their system. local merchants for the purpose of putting on the Colton
- Colton Museum, November 11, 1912. Carnival to be held October 19-24, 1914 to benefit the
purchase of the department’s first motorized fire engine.
There was talk of moving the city’s fire whistle Also at this meeting it was discussed that the department
from Globe Mills to City Hall and install it with an air purchase uniforms and the members pay half while the
compressor. department pays the other half.
The interest in acquiring an auto fire truck was
becoming serious and a committee was formed to inves-
tigate the cost and a building to store it.

1913
There was a new phone alarm system that was
placed in prime locations around town and the chief was
instructed to turn in an alarm every Monday night at 6:30
p.m. during the month in order to test the system.
Chief U’Ren reported that an auto fire truck could
be bought for the following prices:
Pope Hartford Combination Chemical Hose and Ladder
for $5,600
Seagraves Combination for $8,000-10,000
Webb Chemical Hose and Ladder for $5,700
Webb Triple Combination for $8,000
Motion was called for a bond election for $17,000.

Communication was received from cities of Long
Beach and Seattle asking if Colton would send a delegate
to attend the meeting of Pacific Coast Association of Fire
Chiefs to be held in Tacoma, Washington. Chief U’Ren
attended the meeting on August 25, 1913. Pacific Coast
Association of Fire Chiefs later became the Western Fire
Chiefs Association.
The City Council carried a vote to proceed toward
buying an auto fire truck for the Fire Department to be
paid out of revenue of the City of Colton.
In December there was a ball game between the
Colton Fire Department and the Colton Band. This was
also known as the “fats and the leans”. The proceeds of
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