In August of 1873 the fire engines were called to two fires, one at six pm at the Western Depot and the next at six thirty pm in the north part of Normal. The engine that came to the depot had some difficulties, breaking a tongue on the wagon, and then found that the water could not be gotten at. Luckily, the fire was under control through other means and the only loss was a shed of hay. In Normal the "Young America" engine company came to the fire and also found that the water could not be gotten at. Once again, the fire was gotten under control through other, unspecified, means and danger to other buildings was averted.
In the same paper it was pointed out that a new cistern was needed in Ward 2 (the west side of Bloomington). The difficulty was getting the hoses from the water source through a maze of engines and cars. It was suggested that possibly the hoses could be routed under the tracks. With the number of accidents that occurred to men in the rail yards, it would seem to be courting danger to attempt such a feat.
No explanation was given for why the Normal fire company did not have access to water, but in the days of so much wooden construction, coal fires and gas lighting, easy access to water for fire fighting would be essential.