The War Department has selected the Marion Fire Department as one of several departments located at strategic points near war plants scattered throughout the nation to have custody of auxiliary firefighting equipment for use in emergency.

The first shipment of equipment has arrived, and is being set up by the Marion firemen. Although city officials have been asked to regard details of the equipment as military information, it was learned that the equipment which is already on hand, together with other equipment scheduled to be shipped to the local firemen, will be sufficient to equip a Marion fire fighting force of several hundred men if necessary.

The fact that the Illinois Ordnance Plant is located near Marion is believed to have been responsible for Marion’s selection as custodian of the auxiliary firefighting equipment. The plant maintains its own fire fighting force for protection of the plant, but the equipment sent to Marion and to some other cities in war plant areas is designed for use of auxiliary firemen in case of an emergency, including emergency outside the plant area itself.

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