Calls to Waterloo’s fire department increased in 2017, and kitchen fires were the most common call when it came to fires. Crews with Waterloo Fire Rescue were sent to 256 actual fires last year, 56 of which were cooking fires or fires that started in the kitchen area, according to recently released fire department statistics. Of the 56 fires, 12 spread and caused structural damage to the buildings, and 44 were confined to the stove or oven. Vehicle fires accounted for 45 calls last year, and there were 37 calls for fires involving grass, brush and trees. There were 24 trash and rubbish fires and another 14 fires in dumpsters and other trash containers. The city had two fires death in 2017.