City Gives Two Former Fire Chiefs a Ringing Accolade

Two previous fire chiefs were honored Wednesday after having their names engraved on the base of a historic bell that once summoned firefighters to duty and now sits in front of Fire Station No. 1.

The names of Ronny J. Coleman, who was chief from 1985 to 1992, and Marc E. Martin, who held the post 1992 to 1995, joined those of Fullerton’s eight other former fire chiefs on the plaque under the bell.

“This is a tradition that should be kept up,” said former Fire Chief William A. Houser, who retired in 1984.

Martin held the job until he became Santa Ana’s fire chief, and Coleman left Fullerton when he was appointed by the governor as the state fire marshal. Both still hold those jobs.

The former chiefs were honored by Fullerton officials and former fire chiefs from other cities, including La Habra and Newport Beach.

“The history of the Fire Department, where it has been and where it is going to go, has a lot to do with its leaders,” current Fire Chief Stephen P. Magliocco said.

The custom of engraving chiefs’ names on the bell’s base began in 1966 when Station No. 1 was built.

The bell was used nearly 100 years ago when the city’s firefighters were volunteers. It was rung when fire broke out, alerting them to round up their hand carts and buckets. Even though that practice ended years ago, the bell was preserved as a memento of earlier times.