Page 78 - History of the Colton Fire Department

1963 75th anniversary on November 21, 1964. To commem-
On January 25, 1963 two promotions occurred, orate the celebration members of the department were
William Greer and Don Anderson to captain. This was presented with departmental badges which is the present
due to the department going to three platoon system ef- style of badge worn today. At this celebration the de-
fective February 1, 1963. partment also honored past volunteers and call men with
Captain Frank Miller was conducting first aid certificates of devotion to duty.
classes to the police department at Station 2. Above: In 1957
while working on
the 1952 Interna-
1964 tional pickup that
The Colton Fire Department continued develop- was converted to
ing additional methods to train firefighters to include the a ladder truck.
use of television instruction from KVCR 24, San Ber-
nardino Valley College to broadcast fire training on tele- Left: The Fire-
man badge that
vision so that any of the local departments could take ad- was handed out
vantage of this education. The very first class was taped during the 75th
September 9, 1964. The first program was entitled Fire Anniversary. The
Fighting Practices with instructor Captain John Whelan style is still worn
of Los Angeles County Fire Department. Firemen would today but the ti-
tle is now called
register at each station and would take the final exam at Firefighter to con-
San Bernardino Valley College receiving two units of sider all the wom-
college credit. This broadcast training was utilized from en that work for
San Bernardino to Barstow. the fire service.
78 The Colton Fire Department celebrated its