Fire Department

Equipment

The Markle Fire Department operates stations out of the Town of Markle and the Town of Uniondale, providing services to the four surrounding townships. Union and Rock Creek townships in both Huntington and Wells County.

Station #1

• 901 - Rescue/Engine

• 902 - Engine

• 904 - Tanker 3000 gal

• 906 - Grass Rig

• 907 - Utility

• 908 - Medical

• Rescue Boat

• Rescue Equipment Trailer

Station #2

• 991 - Engine

• 992 - Engine

• 993 - Tanker 3000 gal

• 994 - Tanker 3000 gal

• 996 - Grass Rig/Medical

Contact us.

marklefiredept@gmail.com

Station #1

150 West Sparks Street
Markle, IN 46770

260-758-3285

Station #2

755 Railroad Street

Uniondale, IN 46791

260-543-2083

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.

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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 (C.A.F.S.) Avenger. It was the first of it’s kind in the state of Indiana.

2024

The Markle Fire Department and Uniondale Fire Department merged to become one Markle Fire Department & Rescue Inc. Operating two stations, one in Markle and one in Uniondale.

TODAY

Today the Department provides services to the Town of Markle, Town of Uniondale, and four townships, Union, Rock Creek Townships in Huntington County and Union, Rock Creek Townships in Wells county.

The Department presently has a roster of 32 personnel.