VIDEO: On Thanksgiving Iowa Gold Distributing in Central City was devastated by fire. The huge blaze took a lot of man power and Central City fire says because it happened on Thanksgiving day more volunteers were home and able to answer the call but that’s not always the case. Small volunteer departments frequently rely on mutual aid from other area departments for help. “If it is a fire call we will get departments in route right away just so that we have back up coming,” says James O’Leary with Central City Fire. On Thanksgiving 11 volunteer departments responded as part of their mutual aid agreement. “The number of people that you have available at the time of your emergency might vary and so you need other departments come in and assist you,” says Kenneth Washburn, President of the Linn County Firefighters Association.