A Christmas night fire destroyed Jake’s Tire & Recap in Marion. Damage was estimated at $150,000. It was the third major fire in Marion’s business district in less than eight months.
Fire apparently started in the front of the building above the coal stoker furnace. Fire Chief James C. Dungey said the blaze “may have been started by faulty wiring.” Not much fire was believed to have been in the furnace. Once ignited, some $400,000 in contents, mostly rubber tires and recapping equipment quickly burned.
Firemen from Marion, Herrin, Carterville, and West Frankfort had the fire under control in about an hour. About three blocks of Route 37 were blocked off for more than an hour as the blaze threatened homes and a least three businesses. Adding to the danger was the Cities Service bulk plant across the narrow Stockton Street to the south. Only a strong southwesterly wind prevented further danger there. Families from three homes were evacuated. Flying burning embers landing over the area northeast of Jake’s led men to move autos parked on Railroad Street.
Eight trailer trucks, two loaded with grain, owned by Everett Henshaw, valued at about $102,000 were evacuated from a parking area about three lots away from Jakes on Railroad Street. Robert Gay, whose home is at 1007 N. Court, two doors from Jake’s at 1001, was evacuated by Gay. Burning embers fell into the back of a pickup truck loaded with home furnishings, catching a mattress afire as he attempted to flee the danger area.
Joseph Parker of Paulton, a night employee of Giles Armature & Electric across the street from Jake’s, called firemen when he saw flames shooting out from the front center near the top of the building. Officials were investigating today possible heat damage to the Giles building. The sheet metal was hot to touch of the hand during the fire. Jake and Sarah Harrolle, owners of the tire recap and sales store, announced today that negotiations were underway for a temporary location for the business which employs some 11 persons.
A spokesman for the Harrolles said an estimate of losses is pending an inventory. Loss would be only partially covered by insurance. Important papers and records were in a fireproof safe which cannot be opened for about two days because of heat, the spokesman said. The building was valued at about $50,000 by owner O.L. Norris.
This is the second time in less than three months that Norris property has been destroyed by fire. Earlier a house south of Marion was destroyed. (Two paragraphs illegible) small explosions were heard. The roof fell in at 10:20, only 15 or 20 minutes after the fire started. No injuries were reported. Families evacuated were: John Mclellan, small house in the rear of a house occupied by Ron Jackson at 1005 N. Court. The Jackson home is only a few feet from Jake’s. It is a five-room house. Both received exposure damage, an insurance adjuster said.
The Herrin fire department used an old fire truck with “Bunker Hill Fire District” written on the side. Their regular pumper truck was out of commission for repairs. Marion’s trucks were the only ones pumping. Fire Chief Dungey said the water pressure was adequate and there were no problems. “We were lucky to save that house,” he said. He referred to the house occupied by Jackson. Firemen were comparatively unhampered by the cold. It was 37 degrees. They fought the North Market Street fire in about 17 degree weather.
Pat Malone, manager of Jake’s estimated the loss of contents at some $100,000. Malone said inventory was taken only last Thursday. An office was located in the front of the building at the southwest corner. The heating plant and a service area were also in the front. Crews today were clearing streets of fallen brick and other debris.
(Extracted from local newspapers and compiled by Harry Boyd, posted at http://www.marionfire.us )