Santa Maria Fallen Firefighters

Alvin Newton was a 35-year-old father of three and a seven-year veteran of the SMFD, known for being at the center of the action at the fire calls in which he participated. At the Bradley Hotel fire, a large wooden structure which was vacant and scheduled to be demolished, Firefighter Newton was on the top of a retaining wall adjacent to the structure, directing water down on the flames, when the building imploded and he was pulled into the fire. Mr. Newton was also a reserve Santa Maria Police Officer, and was employed by the City’s Water Division.

In January 1969, Alexander arrived at the scene of a house fire in the area of College Street and Mariposa Way, said Larry Tanner, a retired Santa Maria firefighter who served at the same time as Alexander.

“At that time, we had reserves and they would always take the second-out engine,” Tanner said. “Joe lived over on Palm Court so he was close by and was able to get there, get the engine and go to the fire. Sometime after he got there, he had a heart attack and passed away sitting in the engine.”

When Tanner arrived at the scene of the fire, he noticed Alexander slumped over the steering wheel, pulled him from the cab and attempted to resuscitate him. Alexander was 49 years old at the time of his death and was survived by his wife, Winifred, and their daughter, Wanda.

California Firefighters Memorial