Page 30 - History of the Colton Fire Department

explain our

views about fire extinguishers in South Colton.
The city purchased 1000 feet of new fire hose and
Friend Lombra was elected into the membership of the
Colton Volunteer Fire Department.

Both Naomi Carter and Wes Vaughn talked about
the large wooden pole they used to slide down to the en-
gine room. Wes Vaughn said that it was a little tricky
because your cloths would stick to it and would not be
a very smooth slide. Some of the guys would just opt to
take the stairs.

1917
Members of the Fire Department approached the
city trustees for the purpose of fixing suitable rooms up-
stairs in city hall for the chief driver of the fire engine.
Those rooms would also accommodate sleeping rooms
for the firemen.
Boyd Strunk

Ira Caster

Ira Caster was elected as the 11th Fire Volunteer
Chief. Ira B. Caster was born in South Dakota in 1894.
He was a carpenter, owned a grocery store in Colton
and also worked as a deputy sheriff. His son George J.
Caster was an outstanding athlete at Colton High School
and went on to a twelve-year career as a pitcher in the
American League. George Caster played on two World
Series championship teams and was inducted into the
Colton Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.

1916
Boyd Strunk was elected as the 12th Colton Vol-
unteer Fire Chief. Boyd had a reputation as being the
best deer hunter in the area.
The City Trustees contacted the fire department
members and asked that they locate four places in south
Colton for fire extinguishers. The membership voted
and reported that they recommend that NO fire extin-
guishers be placed in South Colton. A commit-
30 tee was appointed to meet with the trustees and