Ninety-five years ago, a morning fire in downtown Colfax, California destroyed a café and a barber shop before it was put out. The Lobner Building caught fire twice but was saved. The fire train that Southern Pacific quickly brought to the Grass Valley Street crossing to help the Colfax fire department was crucial to saving downtown.
The July 2025 issue of the Colfax Cobblestones newsletter includes the story as originally reported in the Colfax Record and Sentinel, on June 20, 1930. The fire itself occurred on June 18, 1930.
Roger Staab transcribed the article from the original publication. This story also appeared in the June 2025 issue of the Placer-Sierra Railroad Heritage Society newsletter.
Colfax Area Historical Society (CAHS) and Colfax Heritage Museum (CHM) 