The town of Martha is located in Southwest Oklahoma and in 1990 local citizens organized the Martha
Fire Department. The department serves the Martha and Jackson County communities. It's jurisdiction
encompasses approximately 75 square miles. The Department is equipped with two pumpers, two brush trucks, a quick attack
unit, and one tanker.
The department occupies what was once the bus barn used by the Martha
School District. At first they were permitted to use one bay located on the south side (right side of picture) of the
barn. When the school was closed in the early 1990's the department was given the opportunity to lease the
remaining portion of the building from the town. Over the years the members have made alterations to the inside.
The four bays on the south side of the station are now used to park the first response units. Two additional
vehicles are parked in the two north bays. In the center is our office and training areas. The building has electricity
and heating, but no air conditioning. At least it keeps the vehicles out of the elements . The department hopes
to find away to fund the building of a new station in the future.
The Fighting 87th Tigers in our patch represents the first
two numbers of our county assigned call numbers. (EX: Chief = 871, Assistant Chief = 872, Captain = 875).
The Tiger originated from the Martha School mascot and was adopted by the department after the school closed in the early
1990's.
Southwestern Oklahoma is prone to severe weather. Most
of the department members are trained as Weather Spotters. They are also tasked with activating the town siren to warn
citizens of approaching severe storms and tornados.
The department is not only responsible to the town of Martha. It also
has provided and received mutual aid from communities in and around Jackson County. The department has assisted
Blair, Friendship, Olustee, Duke and other nearby communities.
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