Markle Fire Department & Rescue

About

Proudly serving the Markle area since 1898.

Description

In 1899, the town of Markle made provisions for a Fire Department, paying one man $6.00 a year to direct volunteers at a fire. The equipment used was an old horse cart, equipped with 100 feet of garden hose.

In 1905, the town bought a single cylinder compression pump on a cart. A bucket brigade fed water to the pump, which was pulled by hand.

There were approximately twenty men that answered the fire bell. The men were all volunteers, getting little if any pay for the fires they attended.

There was no real organization until 1924, when the Department wrote and adopted it's first constitution.



That same year the Department joined the Northern Indiana Industrial and volunteer Fireman's Association. They were also a member of the Indiana Fireman Association. At that time , the Department consisted of ten active members.



All members were to be approved by the Town Board of Markle.

In 1928, the Department purchased it's first truck, a Model A Ford.

In 1941, the Department added five more members to the active list, also the same year they added a 1941 Ford.



In 1953, the town bought an International truck for use within the city limits. The for truck was used as a country truck.



In 1957, the townships covered by the Department, bought a 1957 Chevrolet truck. From then on, the old Ford was used as a Water Wagon shuttling

water to the scene of a rural fire One more man was added to the active list, bringing the total to sixteen



Today the Department covers the Town of Markle, and four townships, Union, Rockcreek, townships county in Huntington county and Union and Rockcreek in Wells county.


In 1982, a new station was built.

In 1998, the Department is expanding the building by adding 2 more bays.

In 2009 the department purchased one of the first compressed air foam trucks in the state of Indiana. Engine 902

In 2011 a new meeting room addition was built on to the station and new medics quarters were added.

The Department presently has 30 fire personal.

2 Pumpers

1 Tanker

1 Grass Rig

1 Rescue Truck

1 Rescue Boat



Meeting time and date:

The fire dept members meet the second Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.

Fire training the second Saturday of the month and the following Tuesday.

First responder training the last Tuesday of the month.

Mission

The Markle Volunteer Fire Department & Rescue INC. (MVFD) is a private volunteer fire corporation. Today, it provides fire protection services to the Town of Markle also Rock Creek and Union Townships in both Huntington and Wells Counties.

Emergency Services Provided:

- Fire Suppression
- Rescue Operations
- Ice and Water Rescue
- Emergency Medical Services (first responders)
- Hazardous Materials
- Support Services
- Mutual Aid

Products

Emergency Services Provided:

- Fire Suppression
- Rescue Operations
- Ice and Water Rescue
- Emergency Medical Services (first responders)
- Hazardous Materials
- Support Services
- Mutual Aid