History of Plateau Valley Fire Department
By Dick Stites
In the year 1911 the town of Collbran constructed its water system complete with fire hydrants in most of the town. Also, on June 29, 1911 the first Collbran Fire Department was organized. The Department elected Barge Hiskey as Chief; Tom May as Secretary, Ben Sucher as Treasurer and George Willard as foreman.
Ed Klosterman, a blacksmith in Collbran at the time, built a hose cart that was moved from place to place by manpower. They equipped the cart with 400 feet of fire hose and one nozzle. That same year, 1911, A.J. “ Andy” Saunders supervised the construction of a water pipeline system in Mesa. The following year this pipeline system was connected to a large spring just South of Mesa on property owned by Andy Saunders. This water supply is still used today. The Andy Saunders homestead and property had been part of the Bevan Ranch for many years. During the year 1914 the Collbran Fire Department petitioned the town for a fire bell. The town board was receptive but the town’s finances were such that they couldn’t “buy a baby rattle”, so Ed Klosterman, the blacksmith made a clapper that could be used in the church bell to make some noise. Also in 1914 the telephone office in Mesa caught fire. A bucket brigade was formed. The building was destroyed but the switchboard equipment was saved. Until the 1960’s when natural gas became available, wood and coal were used for cooking and heating. The wood stoves caused many fires in the town and rural areas. Only the more spectacular ones will be mentioned. In 1923 the large Oasis Hotel in Collbran, located on the South side of High Street near Main was completely destroyed by fire. The Fire Department and its cart were unable to cope. After this fire, Dean McCrellis, a blacksmith build a larger 4-wheel fire wagon, also moved by manpower. It had hoses and nozzles mounted on it. This unit was housed at the South end of Main Street in a little tin shed for the next 28 years. In early May, in 1944 in Collbran, the Cream Station, the Blue Mood Café and the Pool Hall (located where the post office and D-J Café now stand) burned. The buildings were completely destroyed. The Fire Department had enough hose and the Town barely enough water to save the garage to the South (now Donna’s store) and the two story Porter house on the North. In 1949 Dr. H.H. Zeigle obtained, through Civil Defense, our first ambulance. It was a World War II, 1942 Dodge, 4-wheel drive power wagon. These “battle wagons” as they were called, were not built for comfort. They were built on a truck chassis to withstand battlefield conditions and had a hearse body. Top speed was 35 miles per hour. If a person didn’t need medical assistance when they were put in the “battle wagon” they certainly would after taking a ride in it.
In February, 1951, the Plateau Valley Stage Line burned. It was the night of the annual Stockman’s Ball. The temperature was nearly 20 below zero. There was such a crowd at the dance, that plenty of manpower was available, but there was no equipment. The fire hoses would freeze within minutes. The Stage Line was gutted but the surrounding buildings were saved. Many good shoes and Sunday suits were ruined that night. The old Odd Fellowes and Rebekah Lodge was being used to serve midnight supper for the dance and the roaring fire in the old pot belly stove warmed many fire fighters. In rural America, community endeavors such as hospitals and fire departments were created by public response to dramatic and traumatic events. The Stage Line fire created such a response. Of course the original Fire Department personnel were gone. During the Depression years of the 1930’s and the war years of the 1940’s people did not have the time or money for things like this.
The following Monday after the Stage Line fire, Frank Anslem, who with his wife, Margaret, owned the Collbran Hotel (where the Town Hall is located). Frank started asking people on the street for money to build a fire truck. Nick Patsentara, owner of a large sheep ranch came along and wrote a check for $1,000.00. He told Frank that the community would have to match it. They did. Frank received approximately $3,000.00 and bought a 1947 Chevrolet cab and chassis. Bob Skinner who owned the Collbran Supply, offered the use of his maintenance shop to build the unit. There was no place to house the truck so it wouldn’t freeze in the winter. Frank cut a garage door in the east end of the hotel and housed the truck there until 1957. The next project was a fire siren and four telephones placed in homes of men that were usually available. When someone needed help they called the hospital which, of course, was staffed 24 hours per day. The nurse would then contact someone at one of the four phones. That person would hurry to the siren and sound the alarm. In 1954 Beam’s General Store in Mesa caught fire. It was located on the South West side of the highway across from the Post Office. By the time Collbran was notified and the fire truck, along with Frank and others arrived, it was too late to save any of the store. The truck and its 300 gallons of water were credited, however, with saving nearby houses.
The next ambulance had class! It was a 1941 Chevrolet hearse given to the Town of Collbran in 1960 by C.F. Lytle and Company, the contractor who constructed the Vega Dam. It was built for the military but never used by them. Lytle bought it while building a dam on the Missouri River at Garrison, North Dakota. It next went to Glendo, Wyoming on a dam project on the Platte River, then on to Vega, hence to the Town of Collbran. It had approximately 2000 miles on it when the town received it. In 1957 when the school district was consolidated with Mesa and the new school was built West of Collbran, the old high school building in Collbran was torn down. The Ag shop remained for another 41 years before it was demolished. The school district let the Town of Collbran use this building. Frank Anselm moved the fire truck to this building where it remained for the next 10 years. During those 10 years there was no additional equipment added. In May, 1996, Tom Young, who with his family owned the Plateau Valley Stage Line, was killed on High Street on his way to a fire. This very traumatic accident led to the formation of the Plateau Valley Fire Protection District. Until this time the Fire Department operated on donations and an annual men’s basketball tournament.
In 1967, Dick Stites, from Collbran formulated the petitions needed to form a tax district. The District boundaries were to encompass the same boundaries as the school district. With the help of George Bevan of Mesa the petitions were circulated and quickly had more than enough signatures to qualify. Dick Stites with H.K. Webster as professional counsel presented the needed documents to a judge at District Court in Grand Junction and the official district was created.
The first Board of Directors for the new district was as follows:
Dick Stites – President
George Bevan- Vice President
Malcolm Hill- Secretary
Millard Dixon
James “Bud” Walker
Frank Anselm, Fire Chief
We felt strongly that the board should be equally represented throughout the District, not only at inception but in perpetuity. Dick Stites and George Bevan remained as President and Vice President for over 25 years. Malcolm Hill was replaced by Howard Branson after a short time. Howard remained on the board for about 25 years. Millard Dixon was replaced by Ted Walker of Mesa. Ted also remained about 25 years. James “Bud” Walker was replaced by Charles Nichols. Charles came on the board in the mid-seventies and relieved Dick Stites when he stepped down as President. Charles was on the board until the nineties. Frank Anselm was killed in a boating accident on the Lake of the Ozarks in 1975. Gene Click took his place as Fire Chief. Gene had been doing this job for some time with Frank Anselm being the Honorary Fire Chief. After Frank’s death it was decided that Mesa should select their own Chief. John Nostrand was selected and continued in that capacity for many years. Gene Click stayed as Fire Chief until the mid-nineties. The old Collbran – Union High School was only partially demolished. Ted Walker Sr. donated the use of his heavy equipment to fill in the school basement and landscape the property. The Town of Collbran was using the Ag Shop as their offices and garage. The Fire District let them stay there for approximately 3 years, rent free. In 1969 the Collbran Fire Station was built on the Collbran school property for a total cost of approximately $24,000.00. At this point we need to explain how ambulance vehicles and services such as the Fire District’s came into being. President Eisenhower, in his tenure as Chief Executive passed the legislation that started the interstate highway system. The military aspect the former president wanted was not in the legislation. Shortly after the interstate system was started it became apparent to Congress that high speed highways and increased traffic created more accidents and rural America was totally unprepared. Congress then passed legislation creating the Emergency Medical System (E.M.S.). From this we now have very good equipment, emergency physicians, trauma nurses, paramedics and EMT’s all within a short distance of Anywhere, U.S.A. The first Emergency Medical Technician class in Western Colorado was in Grand Junction in 1972. Gene Click was a graduate of that class. Since that time, the Fire District has actively pursued and supported those people from the community who have volunteered their time to gain this invaluable education and who, in turn, gave help to the community. After Dr. Ziegel died the Fire District arranged for instructors to come to Collbran and teach an EMT class. There were approximately 20 students, several of whom are still active. From the first EMT class, Dick Stites, and Peggy Peden went on to become paramedics which was another two years of study. After natural gas was made available in the 1960’s, incidence of house fires diminished but demand for the ambulance increased. Because of this the Fire District concentrated most of their efforts towards that end during the 70’s and 80’s. The reasons for the increased demand for ambulance services were the creation of a nursing home in Collbran, the increase of skiers at Powderhorn Ski Area and increased tourism. With the loss of Dr. Ziegel, the Collbran and Mesa crews transported nearly all patients to Grand Junction. Shortly before the Fire District was formed, Frank Anslem and Dick Stites made two trips to Denver in search of a newer ambulance. Our 1941 Chevrolet was not very appropriate even when new. It still had very few miles on it but was 20 years old. We found a number of long, sleek, black Cadillac hearses but no vehicles that were made as ambulances. Back in Collbran, Frank consulted with Dr. Ziegel and with his help we obtained through the Air Force surplus, a 1963 Pontiac Ambulance. We obtained this in 1969. In the early years after the District was formed we were cash poor. We had to purchase fire and ambulance equipment for Mesa and Collbran so we could provide the much needed services. We also wanted to start towards our long range goal of obtaining a rating from the Insurance Rating Bureau which would lower the District Taxpayer’s insurance rate enough to offset the 3 mil tax levy for the Fire District.
The first year we had zero cash until the following April when taxes would be paid. For several years our annual budget was $15,000.00. In 1970 and 1971 we obtained two 4 x 4, ¾ ton Ford trucks from Duane Hoffman and Gardner Clymer of Hoffman Motors in Palisade, Colorado. They gave us these trucks on a handshake and a pay as you go agreement. This was a tremendous help to us. In 1972 the Grand Junction Fire Department retired one of their pumper trucks. We obtained this 1951 Chevrolet 2 ½ ton truck with equipment, which was housed in Collbran. Frank Anslem and Dick Stites, with advice from the board members and with volunteers, built and mounted 250 gallon tanks, mounted pumps, hoses and other equipment. We wanted a small vehicle to respond quickly and one that would be simple to operate. In 1974 a new ambulance that was truly built as an ambulance was purchased for the Collbran Station. In 1977 a 2 ½ ton Ford truck was purchased. The equipment from the old Grand Junction pumper was installed on this new truck which is still used in Mesa as of this writing. When the 1973 ambulance was purchased the 1963 Pontiac went to Mesa for a short time. It was replaced with a 1965 International, retrofitted as an ambulance. By this time the Fire District was on financially stable ground and by the 1990’s nearly all vehicles had been replaces with new ones.
