Marion Fire Dept 1916 Engine
Marion’s twenty horse power fire truck purchased from the International Harvester Company could hardly ascend the hill from the fire barn to the square this morning when summoned to a fire in the rear of the Nance Store on West Main Street. The truck was not overloaded as the trouble might seem but it just failed to go up.
A truck of that size should be able to carry sufficient hose for reaching any fire we might have and should at least be able to carry the men for fighting same. Except for the fact that the water pressure was heavy this morning and that there was no wind the fire might have been very disastrous and the delay in going up the small hill would have meant much in saving of property.
The destroyed property was a barn owned by Dr. Dobbs and rented by George Binkley. An automobile in the barn owned by Clem Plodeck was taken out of the barn after the fire started and thus saved from destruction. Mrs. S.E. Hudgens’ home, which almost touched the barn, was badly scorched but by quick action of the fire boys was saved from destruction.
A little time was lost in putting the water on the barn through not laying the hose when the wagon first arrived. It was thought the fire could be extinguished with only the use of the chemicals. The hose should be laid to every fire no matter how insignificant as it takes little time to do so and is then ready if the fire proves to be larger that at first indicated. When the water was turned on, the fire was soon extinguished. Chief Harry Cash said the pressure was the best that there has been since the fire which burned out Bainbridge’s about a year ago.
The loss will doubtless amount to a couple of hundred dollars but it was not learned whether this was covered by insurance. The injury to Mrs. Hudgens’ home was covered by insurance. It is not known how the fire started but the whole barn was practically ablaze when our auto truck arrived. Added note: The fire alarm sounded after the fire was out.
(Extracted from local newspapers by Harry Boyd)