Page 40 - History of the Colton Fire Department

specting the skeleton of the old alarm tower, which is being razed,
Firemen wipes out debt - A year ago the Colton Volunteer Fire De- noticed a mess of rubbish lying on the sill between the outer and
partment borrowed $1,000.00 from the local bank. They needed this inner walls of the tower that had stood a period of 40 years. More
to add to their fund. They already had purchased a three quarter acre investigation led to finding an old brass powder flask, such as was
site on Big Bear Lake to build a club house which is now almost com- used by hunters prior to 30 years ago and if they were able to afford
pletely finished. The last $200.00 was paid today. The Club building such a luxury. The container was half full of perfectly good powder,
has 12 full-sized beds. The property cost $53,000.00 and they did all has a measure holding one charge for the muzzle loading shot gun,
the work themselves. The building is 20x40. such as was used in former time and a valve which closed the flow
- Colton Courier, March 9, 1927. when the tube was filled. It brought considerable attention as in early
days people were too poor to buy a brass flask and they used a flask
John A. Wenck, 75, first fireman of the city passed away - One of the made from a cow’s horn.
interesting sidelights in his career here is that he was the first regu- - Colton Courier, November 12, 1927.
larly paid fireman who served on the department up until 1913 when 1928
the city purchased the large Seagraves pumps now in use. Mr. Wenck Both the Mayor and Fire Chief Lombra were authorized to
had driven the one horse cart, almost since the day it was acquired. represent the City at the Convention of California Fire Chiefs to be
Old timers remember him on occasions of fires in the years gone by held in Coronado May 18, 19 and 20th.
of welding the whip and speeding to the spot he was called. He was Colton’s First Volunteer Fire Chief, Edward McKinney,
very sad the day progress moved in with the Seagraves pumpers. died while digging for worms to go fishing. He was 68 and just
Twelve years ago, in 1915, he acquired a job at California Portland returned to Colton after leaving for Los Angeles to become a police
Cement Co„ as a night watchman, according to George Olsen, Su- officer.
perintendent. With his love of shrubs and flowers he soon became Fire Chief Lombra purchased a generator and 1,000 pounds
the gardener for several years. Last winter, 1926, he was laid off his of foamite powder. He felt it was necessary to protect the city and
work at the Cement Company Burial was at Hermosa Cemetery. business and the two oil sections against danger of an oil fire. Mr.
- Colton Courier, June 30, 1927. Robinson, Councilman, was the originator of the plan to provide the
city with foamite. - Colton Courier, August 22, 1928.
City Fireman to have “duck suits” - The Council last night author- 1929
ized Fire Chief Friend Lombra, who made the request, to purchase As the work load increased so did the pay scale. Fire safety
26 duck suits, wool lined, a dozen rubber coats and a half dozen hel- and prevention has become a large part of what the fire department
mets. The old suits were worn out and with winter around the corner. is about. The work was spread out between the Chief and his driver.
Each man will keep his suit at home and when the alarm sounds, he The Volunteers are helping where ever they can. The variety of calls
can “slip” it on over his business or work clothes. If at night, he just where increasing with traffic accidents, medical aids, train lines that
slips it on in three seconds and is ready with no danger of getting would run through town, electric street cars and other new situations
wet or dirty. that the fire department would become involved in. The fire chief’s
- Colton Courier, October 18, 1927. salary increased from $25.00 per month to $35.00 per month. The
second driver was appointed fire inspector for the business district at
City Hall and Fire House-City building relics of old - George Cart- $10.00 a month. Business inspections would take place semi-month-
er, head truck driver for the fire department, made a remark they ly.
might find some old relics while they were tearing away the roof of
the old city hall and installing the new roof. Mr. Carter, while in-
The Colton Fire Volunteers have always enjoyed their family time together
so they pooled their money and skills to build a cabin in Big Bear.

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