Our History
The Marlow Volunteer Fire Department was organized in 1979 and began answering an average of 80 calls per year with a 500 gallon 1953 Howe Pumper that was purchased with a loan co-signed by the founding members. During the past two decades, we have been blessed with the generous support of Anderson County, through volunteers, cash donations and merchant contributions, allowing us to answer emergency calls with improved equipment and efficiency. At present, our volunteers operate out of two fire halls, one located in the Marlow community and one in the Donovan community, serving approximately 10,000 Anderson County residents in 3,500 structures spread over an area of 60 to 65 square miles.
Through continued equipment upgrades and twice-monthly training, the department has earned a Class 7 rating from the Insurance Services Office. This rating is an objective, independent evaluation of the department's capabilities and saves homeowners, churches and businesses in our service area a tremendous amount of money in reduced property insurance premiums each year. Our department has formal mutual aid agreements with most area emergency organizations and answers calls for assistance from emergency agencies in the county, as well as outlying volunteer departments. With mutual aid responses and an increasing population in Anderson County, our emergency calls totaled 411 in 2003.
Marlow Volunteer Fire Department is an independent, non-profit corporation that is run strictly by its volunteer membership. No one receives any direct or indirect compensation for service. Presently, 51 men and women give of their time and experience to perform firefighting, training, dispatching, fundraising, maintenance and administrative tasks. New members are always welcome - and needed - to volunteer in any and all of these areas.
Sunday, February 17, 2008 03:03:40 PM