Memorable Moments in Colden Fire Company History

 
Frantz Rd Farmhouse Fire
Near blizzard conditions with a temperature of -10°F and 50 mph winds.  The Trapich family just returned home from Florida and parked their motor home on the west side of the house.  The heater in the motor home caught fire engulfing the motor home which, with the high winds, pushed the flames onto the home.  American LaFrance Colden Engine #1 responded with chained wheels behind a town plow truck.  With these conditions the house was destroyed in nearly 15 minutes.

 Bell Star Fire
A overheated exhaust fan caught fire and quickly spread into a dry hemlock barn building.  Colden responded with East Concord, Boston, Holland, and West Falls as mutual aid.  Colden Engine #1 set up at a nearby pond as a water supply.  A draft was established and water was supplied to the scene.  Suddenly, Colden #1 lost prime for no reason and had to be pulled out of the supply line.  By the time a second engine was put in and ready to supply water, the fire was out of control. The intense heat melted the lights and some paint on trucks at the scene.  The building was a complete loss.

 Red Lantern
Early morning fire, with Colden and surrounding mutual aid companies responding.  As Colden #1 approached railroad crossing in Glenwood visibility was zero.  Heavy smoke and dense air kept smoke low.  The building was full of smoke and heavy fire conditions.  During salvage a body of a deceased tenant was found in the basement.

 Robbery with Head-On Crash on Berg’s Curve
Following bank robbery of several thousand dollars in the southern tier, Erie County Sheriffs patrol car in pursuit of suspects resulted in crash on Berg’s curve (near Post Office).  The robbery suspects had hit a Springville family head on and fled into the creek and nearby wooded area.  Following arrest of suspects Colden Fire Company assisted searching for loot and weapons.  It was soon found under a rock ledge near the creek.

 Colden Highway Dept.
On a cold winter day in 1970, a natural gas leak took place in office of highway department.  Entire structure with gas that was later ignited resulting in an explosion that destroyed the building and all equipment, except for a single plow truck parked outside.  New highway garage is on the site of the former structure.  No one was injured.