Robert Delano Martell began his career with the Strathcona County Fire Department in 1971 as a Volunteer Fire Fighter. In 1974, Bob gained employment with the department and began serving the citizens of Sherwood Park and Strathcona County as a Full-time Fire Fighter. In the later part of his career, Bob left the fire floor and became a Fire Investigator and Public Education Officer with the department. It was from this position that Bob's face and his name became familiar to [virtually] every school aged child in Sherwood Park.

Bob passed away from job-related illness on June 18th, 1995. He was honoured with a Class II Fire Department Funeral Service and posthumously awarded the I.A.F.F. Martin E. Pierce Commemorative Medal and the I.A.F.F. Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Medal. In addition, Bob's name and personal information have been placed on [both] the Strathcona Fallen Fire Fighters' Memorial in Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada and the I.A.F.F. Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial in Colorado, U.S.A.