Marion’s newest fire truck, which arrived Wed. evening, was the object of attention Thursday morning as Marion firemen prepared it for duty. The enclosed-cab 202 horsepower vehicle will be fully equipped to handle almost any fire in Marion. The new truck will carry 1,500 feet of two and half inch hose and 100 feet of one and a half inch hose. This will reach from a fire hydrant to any spot in Marion, according to Zoral Buckner, fire chief. The 1941 Ford truck which remains in use will carry 1,000 feet of hose. The new truck cost about $14,000 without full equipment. The total cost with equipment is about $17,500 according to E.E. Weber, city commissioner. Weber pointed out the new truck will not be an extra burden to Marion taxpayers. Weber said about half the initial cost of the truck is paid for from federal Civil Defense funds.

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