In the summer of 1940 the Auxiliary Fire Service (A.F.S.) was formed to augment the regular fire service, there being units in Haddington, Gullane (with a two-man manual pump housed in Dirleton) and elsewhere in the county. The A.F.S. provided a vital service in East Lothian, dealing rapidly with any fires and also giving lectures to local groups on subjects such as how to deal with incendiary bombs.