Page 82 - History of the Colton Fire Department

1965 Chief Temby with
until about 1983. Governor
1967
With the annexation of Reche Canyon the pos- Reagan while serving as
sibility of a future fire station located within the Reche Pres. of the California
As a result of the innovative ideas and programs
Chiefs Association.
Canyon area. This area today is served by Station 4 that that Chief Temby had brought to Colton, he was elected
was built in 1989. President of the California Fire Chiefs Association.
The original City Hall and Fire Station was de-
molished in 1965 with it’s debris taken to a Rialto Dump
site. The cornerstone (or foundation stone) concept is
derived from the first stone set in the construction of a
masonry foundation, important since all other stones
will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining
the position of the entire structure. Some cornerstones
include time capsules from the time a particular building
was built. There was a time capsule found at the Rialto
dump and returned to the city and is now on display in the
Colton Museum.

The original City Hall and fire station around 1924 showing the
placement of the corner stone.

1966
Colton Fire Chief Ed Temby was instrumental
in training firemen from Mexico known as “bombero”.
The first bombero program was held in Colton February
6, 1966. The visiting firemen from Mexico slept in lo-
cal fire stations and received training on firefighting tech-
niques such as first aid, ropes and knots. Training classes
were held at the Colton Armory on “B” Street. Instruc-
tors were from Los Angeles County Fire Department,
State Forestry and neighbouring valley departments. The
bombero program would be ongoing for several more
years which would be held in several locations such as
Los Angeles County, San Francisco area and San Diego
County. What was started here in San Bernardino Coun-
ty was carried on by the California Fire Chief’s
82 Association. Colton still hosted the bomberos