Oskaloosa Welcomes New Firefighter

Oskaloosa firefighter Eric Martin

Oskaloosa, Iowa – Oskaloosa Fire Department has a new firefighter.

Eric Martin may be new to Oskaloosa, but he’s no stranger to the world of firefighting. Martin worked as a firefighter in Michigan for the past 5 years before making the move to Oskaloosa.

Martin said that he found the firefighter opening when it was posted to a national listing. He took a chance and applied for the position. He was hired after passing all of the pre-employment qualifications and testing that is performed.

Martin has been on the job in Oskaloosa for nearly a week, and when Oskaloosa News first came across the newest addition to the firehouse, he was getting a taste of backing in a firetruck into the 100 year old door. No mirrors were lost this time.

Martin says his first impressions of Oskaloosa are that, “it’s a nice little town. I like the area.”

“It’s a good group of guys,” says Martin of his new coworkers.

Martin arrived to fire department just as the dirt work for the new fire station got under way.

Martin’s first real fire call came on Tuesday, when the department was dispatched to a grass fire. “Got our truck stuck twice there,” says Martin.

Martin says that he plans to stay a part of Oskaloosa Fire until he retires, but for now, Martin is working on finding a place to call home. “It’s a pretty good place.”