Fire Department
Contact us.
The Markle Fire Department covers the Town of Markle and four surrounding townships. Union and Rock Creek townships in both Huntington and Wells County.
The Department presently has 30 fire service personnel.
• Rescue/Engine - 901
• Engine - 902
• Tanker - 904
• Grass - 906
• Medical - 908
• Rescue Boat
marklefiredept@gmail.com
(260) 758-3285
150 West Sparks Street
Markle,IN 46770
Officers
Fire Chief 910 – Jon Gray
Assistant Chief 911 – Mike Grant
Captain 912 – Mark Dinius
Captain 913 – Nate Schmalzried
Lieutenant 914 – David Brown
Lieutenant 915- Eric Pike
Safety Officer 945 – Rick Weikel
First Responder Coordinator 941 – Gatlin Sunday
Volunteers
Lesa Asher -916
Rick Asher -921
Damen Bennett - 925
Jeff Brown – 927
Joe Collins – 926
Charles Douglass III – 942
Ian Freds – 930
Robert Gonser – 935
Scott Howell – 933
Matthew LePage – 923
James Ormiston - 948
Bob Rzasa – 939
Jason Schindler – 937
Department History
1898
In 1898, 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.
1905
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 its first constitution.
That same year the Department joined the Northern Indiana Industrial and volunteer Firemen’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.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
1928
In 1928, the Department purchased its first truck, a Model A Ford.
1941
In 1941, the Department added five more members to the active list, also the same year they added a 1941 Ford.
They added a 1944 Jeep with a 250-gallon tank, to be used for grass fires.
1953
In 1953, the town bought an International truck for use within the city limits. The ford truck was used as a country truck.
1957
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.
1967
In 1967 the EMS was formed and a Rescue Unit was purchased.
1970
In 1970, the Department received a new Dodge truck for rural use. It was capable of pumping 500 gallons of water per minute and carried 1000 gallons of water.
1982
In 1982, a new station was built.
1998
In 1998, the Department added two more bays and a meeting room to the building.
2009
In 2009 the Department purchased a new Darley Compressed Air Foam Suppressant truck (C.A.F.S.) This was one of the first of its kind in the State.
2011
In 2011 a new larger meeting room and medics quarters were added.
2019
In 2019 the Department purchased a new Rosenbauer Avenger. It is the first of it’s kind in the state of Indiana.
TODAY
Today the Department covers the Town of Markle, and four townships, Union, Rockcreek, Townships in Huntington County and Union and Rockcreek in Wells county.
The Department presently has 30 fire service personnel.
