Marietta CommunityVolunteer Fire Department

A special thanks to MarionHickman for providing the information and pictures for the history.   

  In November of 1953, a group of concernedcitizens met and organized the Marietta Community Volunteer FireDepartment.  They chose thirty directors.  Ten of these would servethree years; ten would serve two years; and the remaining would serve oneyear.  From these directors Emerson Coy was elected to serve as President;Russell Cherry would serve as Vice President; Wallace Isley was electedSecretary; and William McClain was elected Treasurer.  The new organizationwill provide fire protection for Hendricks and Jackson townships.  The townof Marietta would be a logical choice for the department because of its centrallocation in regard to the two townships. 

    The following year a twenty man departmentwas established.  The first fire chief was Floyd Jackman.  Thedepartment "opened for business" with a borrowed fire truck andtwo-car garage.  Construction of the fire station was completed in1955.  The building was funded by donations and most of the labor wasdonated.      The first fish fry was held in 1954. Thedepartment's budget was met by money received at the annual fish fry and throughdues paid by members of the Marietta Community Volunteer FireDepartment.  

    In 1977, the department expanded with asecond building constructed adjacent to the existing building.

    Tragedy struck the department in January of1992.  Fire destroyed the block building constructed in 1954-1955. The fire was reported just before 7a.m. on a Friday morning.  Two men, JohnScott and Don Snepp, rushed into the burning building and drove the trucksthrough the door of the building.  Once outside, they started to battle theblaze.  Fire fighters from four area departments brought the fire undercontrol within an hour but not before it had gutted the building. 

    Through donations, fund raisers, andinsurance money a new headquarters was constructed on the same spot as the oldbuilding.  Encompassing 3,344 square feet, the new building will housetrucks and the department's kitchen.  One day short of six months after thetragedy, on July 23, the building was completed. 

Today's department is made up of 26 directors, 22 firemen, and20 members of the lady's auxiliary.  The department operates with 5 trucks.  We are currently purchasing a pumper-tanker to replacethe tanker purchased in the 1970's.