Fourteen units of the 45-unit Marion Court motel were heavily damaged early today when fire broke out in the attic of one of the units. Flames shooting about 20 feet in the air from the point where the fire probably started routed all of the occupants from the motel which was filled nearly to capacity.

Water damage is reported heavy but officials said smoke or fire did not penetrate the rooms. “The occupants wouldn’t have known the place was on fire if we hadn’t told them. The place is fireproof,” said John Cuthbertson, part owner, who was operating the switchboard at the time of the fire. “I was up getting ready to make my 5:30 calls when my switchboard went out. A man in his pajamas came in and told me there was a fire.

I went to the restaurant next door to call the fire department but some men coming out of the restaurant told me they had already called,” said Cuthbertson. “I saw the flames shooting high from the cupola (vent). I just about wore out my knuckles on the doors.”

An unofficial estimate of the damage is $50,000. Sam Dunaway, insurance agent who has the motel account, estimated the damage to be in the “thousands of dollars.” He said there was extensive water damage to rugs and TV sets.

All the rooms affected by the fire were single rooms on the north wing and were all occupied. Twin rooms are in the south wing, authorities said. No one was injured in the fire which Marion Fire Chief James Dungey said was apparently started by faulty wiring. He said fire and smoke was confined to the small attics above each unit. Dungey said the Herrin Fire Department stood by at the Marion station.

Officials said customers who planned to stay over today were moved to other rooms and the others have gone. Owner Elmo Farris said business is continuing as usual in the remaining units and the carpenters and emergency crews are at work bringing the other units back to normal.

(Extracted from local newspapers and compiled by Harry Boyd, posted at http://www.marionfire.us )