Page 36 - History of the Colton Fire Department

A $45,000 bond was placed to secure funds for Jr. described their experiences with the Colton Fire De-
the repair City Hall, build a new jail, secure a site for and partment and what a huge part it played in their life. One
build a new fire hall with living quarters for paid drivers of the hottest fires that Wes remembered was when two
and a club room for the Volunteer Fire Department. The silos at the Globe Mills were totally involved and no one
bond election was fixed for Thursday, June 2, 1927. wanted to get near it. The grain burns extremely hot and
the turnouts in those days did not shield you from the heat
New siren has arrived for the fire department - It is here at last. The much. Wes said that his Dad (Lewis Vaughn) grabbed 2
new siren for the fire department ordered nearly three months ago ladders and lashed them together to reach the top of the
and lost somewhere may be on the desert, as the result of the ship- silo. He climbed to the top and started to spray water
pers misdirecting it. The huge piece of machinery weighs about 700
pounds and is sounded by electricity. It will be hoisted to the top of from the top. Wes told me there was at least 100 people
the city building and will take the place of the old one that has been all watching from below and they everyone thought he
in use a long time. According to Chief Lombra, it is the first siren of was going to fall. But in the end, everyone thought he
this kind to be installed on the entire Pacific Coast. When in working was a hero for keeping the fire from spreading. Wes Jr.
order, the manufacturer guarantees the ominous wail may be heard said that the firemen back then were all fearless, although
a distance of five miles in still air. When in place, it will be tested.
However, Chief Lombra says prior notice will be given to the public. I would have to think that nothing has changed since
The siren is on a 30-day trial and under the term of purchase may be then. With the lack of safety measures and equipment
rejected if not satisfactory. - Colton Courier, May 11, 1926. at that time would have intensify the dangers of their job.
Wes remembers responding to the station for calls. Most
The Courier was unable to learn today just when the old alarm was of the volunteers would have to find their own way to
installed. Dan Thomas, Post Master, believes 1908 or 1909. Chief
of Police, George, thinks 1913 or 1914. Some say earlier, others say the fire and would meet at the station. A bunch of guys
1917. A representative from the American-La France Fire Engine Co. would all jump in one vehicle and be hanging out win-
will arrive tomorrow to make adjustments as it is unsatisfac¬tory. dows and on the running boards at times. There were
- Colton Courier, May 25, 1926. not any traffic lights in town and they would do a rolling
stop with their horns a blazing. The sound of the horns
Siren’s lack of pep - The Colton Board of Trustees have rejected the
new fire alarm siren purchased recently. Fire Chief Lombra told the would let the other volunteers know which direction to
members it failed to do what it was supposed to do. The voice is too go if they didn’t have the address. Once Wes’s horn got
weak for the purpose for which it was designed for. Chief Lombra stuck on the way to the fire so when he arrived and started
stated the old siren could be repaired at much less money. The old helping at the fire, everyone was joking about the horn
siren was more or less obstructed by the tower in which it hung. The still chirping. Wes died in 2009 with Colton’s Honor
possibility of moving the tower, if it does not damage the building, is
to be investigated. - Colton Courier, June 8, 1926. Guards and Chief Hendrix praising his devotion.

Officers of the Fire Department learning to drive trucks - Three of-
ficers, Chief Friend Lombra, Asst. Chief, Walter Harpold and Capt.
J.J. Andrews have begun the task of learning to drive the two trucks
at headquarters as they should have a degree of skill handling the
motor driven vehicles as they do driving the lighter cars. The ob-
ject of this experiment, according to Chief Lombra, is that there is
an ample supply of reserve pilots in the event the regular drivers, Wes Vaughn and
George Carter and Ted Croone are out or should become disabled. his son stand-
With three extra men there should be no problem with a driver for the ing on the 1924
two fire trucks. Each of the three officers of the department will take Seagraves in
one or the other of the trucks out of the station at intervals with one 2007.
of the regular drivers along. This will be done until they are capable
of handling the truck alone. - Colton Courier, September 2, 1926.

1927
The City Trustees elected the fire chief to also be
the Fire Marshal.
Wes Vaughn joined the Colton Volunteers in 1927
and gave 33 years as a volunteer until Colton disbanded
the volunteer program around 1960. Wes Vaughn stayed
in contact with the Colton Fire Department as the oldest
living volunteer when he shared his experiences
36 with me in 2007. Wes and his son Wes Vaughn