Fire damages business, apartment building in Iowa City

A Saturday morning fire in an apartment caused damage to a building in Iowa City. At around 7:25 a.m., the Iowa City Fire Department was sent to 445 Highway 1 West after a report of a fire at a two-story building that contains businesses and apartments. Firefighters arrived and located smoke emanating from one of the apartment’s windows. The fire was contained to the apartment where it was located and was extinguished within 15 minutes of firefighters’ arrival, according to officials. Nobody was hurt in the fire. Damage to the building was estimated at around $40,000. The Iowa City Police Department, Johnson County Joint Emergency Communications Center, Johnson County Ambulance Service, and the American Red Cross assisted in the emergency response. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
KCRG-TV ABC 9 Cedar Rapids

Dubuque firefighters perform CPR on three pets caught in fire, only one survives

A dog and cat have perished despite the efforts of Dubuque firefighters called to a house fire. Another cat was resuscitated. Crews were called to 1780 Hale St. just after 4:00pm Sunday after a passerby noticed smoke coming from the house. When crews arrived, they rushed in to see if there was anyone inside. No persons were home at the time, but crews pulled out two cats and a dog. CPR was performed on all three, but just one cat was resuscitated. Family friends rushed the cat to an emergency vet. Two people who live there have been relocated as the damage has rendered the structure uninhabitable. The cause of the fire is now under investigation.
KGAN-TV CBS 2 Cedar Rapids

One Person Found Deceased in Hancock House Fire

PHOTOS: Hancock Fire Chief Josh Billings confirmed that one person was found deceased in a house fire early this (Friday) morning. Firefighters were called to a house fire in the 300 block of Kimball Street at around 3:00 a.m. Chief Billings said when they arrived on scene the two-story structure was fully involved. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Pottawattamie County Investigators are on scene. The home is a total loss. The Avoca and Oakland Fire Departments assisted the Hancock Fire Department on scene.
KSOM-FM 96.5 Audubon

Hinton fire chief calls for reopening of emergency rail crossing that adds 20 minute detour

VIDEO: An emergency train crossing near Hinton, Iowa, and just north of Sioux City, remains closed raising fears of a 20-minute detour if emergency services need to reach the area. Hinton’s fire chief is now calling on the railroad to reopen the crossing. This crossing is meant to be used when the main crossing, at U.S. Highway 75 and East Main Street, also known as County Road C60, is closed. But, right now, emergency vehicles will have to wait for trains to pass, or use a 20-minute detour. Trains rumble through Hinton between two and four times an hour, according to Fire Chief Cameron Peirce. And that’s bad news when emergency vehicles need to cross the railroad tracks owned by Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF). “It is life or death,” said Peirce. “So it takes 20 minutes to get there (with that) extra detour just to get across again.”
KTIV-TV NBC 4 Sioux City