The Story of Fire Protection in Sweetwater
Valley
Fire never
had been a concern to the residents of the Sweetwater area, there just
weren't that many homes in the valley. The first recorded
fire was the Allen home in 1906. It was all wood construction and did
not take long to burn. The fire alarm rang out through the valley by
ringing the bell on the boarding house owned by the Sweetwater Fruit
Company, not far from the Allen home.
A second residential fire took place in 1907 and again the boarding
house bell rang to call the hired hands in from the fields and respond
to try to extinguish the fire.
No other fires were recorded until late 1948 when a home on Willow Road
was destroyed by fire. This was one of the coldest winters residents
could remember. Temperatures had plummeted to 19 degrees at night, and
snow fell and remained on Mt. San Miguel for at least a week.
Citizens realizing how vulnerable they were, decided that better fire
protection was needed. Now, the only fire protection provided was by
the California Division of Forestry. The nearest station was on East
J Street in Chula Vista. If additional trucks were required, they had
to come from La Mesa.
The Sweetwater Fruit Company provided a fruit sprayer truck available
to fight fires. They also installed a telephone in their offices and
nearby at the La Tienda Cafe. When an alarm came in, the information
was taken down, then the person ran to the Old Red Barn to ring the bell.
This called the fruit company employees in from the orchards to operate
the engine. They were given the location and then the fruit company employees
raced to the fire. They would be aided by the Division of Forestry, when
they finally arrived. This system was neither quick or very efficient.
Often the fruit sprayer truck was out in the field. When the fire bell
rang out the engine would have to dump its oil used to control insects
on the trees, then fill the tank with water, all before responding to
the fire.
Late in 1949, a group of concerned citizens held several meetings to
see if there could be a better fire protection plan for the valley by
forming a local fire department. At a meeting of the Sweetwater Mens
Club, January 26, 1950, Scofield Bonnet brought before the members the
idea of forming a volunteer fire department. The idea caught on. Less
than a month later, on February 14, 1950, papers of incorporation were
signed forming the Upper Sweetwater Valley Volunteer Fire Department.
Don Herron, a 6th grade teacher at Ellen B. Allen School became the first
Fire Chief and was aided by 15 volunteers.
Later, an additional sprayer truck from the Williams Ranch was added
so there would always be a truck standing by available to be used for
firefighting. No longer would time be wasted to dump the oil and refill
the tank with water. On more than one occasion, residual oil was still
in the hose lines causing the fire to flare up and spread briefly as
fire fighters began to extinguish the fire. Each truck held 500 gallons
of water and was equipped with a spray nozzle. The engine had no real
home, it was kept under trees and covered with a canvas tarp until needed.
It was parked near the Old Red Barn. The barn was a valley landmark until
it was demolished in 1960 to make room for the Bonita Village Shopping
Center.
Money to operate the fire department was needed. Donations were obtained
through benefit horse shows and $25.00 a year subscriptions from residents.
The first horse show in June of 1950 held in the arena next to the Red
Barn raised $1300, enough to purchase a surplus 1931 Moreland Engine
from CDF for $750.00. A picnic and fundraiser was held to raise money
to equip the engine. During the picnic, a fire was spotted across the
valley and the Moreland and all available volunteers responded.
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