Fire Destroys Garage and Cars at Home in Des Moines

A fire completely destroyed a garage and two cars at a home in Des Moines Saturday evening. The Des Moines Fire Department responded to a fire at 208 Jackson Avenue and found a detached garage fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters contained the fire before it spread to the house. A family was at the home when the fire started, but fortunately no one was injured. “Luckily we had a hydrant right here. We were able to get a quick stop on it and nothing else was damaged around,” said Captain Mike Morgan. The fire is secure and investigators are working to determine what started it.
WHO-TV NBC 13 Des Moines

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for New Marshalltown Police and Fire Department State-Of-The-Art Facility

After the red ribbon is cut on the new Marshalltown Police Department/Fire Department building at 6 p.m. Tuesday, residents attending the open house will see a state-of-the-art facility that is the best in Iowa. “I am thrilled for the men and women of the police and fire departments who put their lives on the line for us every day,” Mayor Joel Greer said. “They now have a professional facility to do their work.” With nearly two years of construction, 14 years of planning and coordination, numerous public forums and two public bond referendums, Chief of Police Mike Tupper and Fire Chief David Rierson believe all has generated an excellent return on investment.
Times-Republican

Elberon community raises $100,000 for new fire station

A community in eastern Iowa raised more than $100,000 to go towards a new fire station. The Elberon Rural Fire Department's crew showed off their new building on Saturday. Fire Chief Alicia Lidtke said the town's support is amazing. She said her staff provides a necessary service for the broader community. "People who live in a small town deserve to have the same care a larger city would get. So we take care of the people here. And since we're close to Highway 30," Lidtke said.
KCRG-TV ABC 9 Cedar Rapids

Marshalltown man charged with setting fire to vacant house

Marshalltown man Tyrone Lamont Eatmon, 27, was arrested by Marshalltown police Thursday and taken to Marshall County Jail on a charge of arson-second degree, a Class C felony, according to a police report. Additionally, Eatmon is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and interference with official acts. Eatmon is accused of starting a fire on the exterior of a vacant house in the 800 block of South 12th Avenue earlier this week, according to the complaint. Damage was estimated at $500. At his initial court appearance before a magistrate Friday, Eatmon was ordered held at the county jail on $10,000 cash bond. His preliminary hearing is Sept. 27.
Times-Republican

Donation Presented for Washington Fire Department Training and Fitness Room

The new Washington Fire Department is nearing completion and a local donation is helping to furnish it. Federation Bank is contributing $10,000. The donation is being used to furnish the training room, fitness room, and gear washing facilities. President and CEO of Federation Bank Jamie Collier said they are happy to make such a contribution, “Our local firefighters put in many hours of training each year to make sure they are keeping themselves and their fellow firefighters safe. We owe them a debt of gratitude for what they do and we are happy to help them in this way.” Work on the fire station began last fall and the total cost of the project is $ 2.5 million. The former fire station space will be renovated to city hall and police department offices.
KCII AM-1380 & FM-106.1

Cedar Rapids Citizens’ Fire Academy gets to work the "Jaws of Life"

VIDEO: On week three of the Cedar Rapids Citizens' Fire Academy it was time to bring out one of the most important tools when it comes to fire departments responding to the scene of a serious car crash. "I always thought it was just one piece of equipment," Gary Sager, one of the class members said. "Learning tonight, it's two or three with the cutter and the spreader." They are affectionately called the "Jaws of life". At a price tag of upwards of $10000 a piece, the hydraulic rescue tools are worth every penny to fire fighters since they enable them to safely extract someone from a vehicle. The cutter, spreader and ram can help pull doors off of cars, take roofs off and cut class out without a problem. Firefighters rely on them to fulfill one of their main goals, to rescue a patient within a set time frame and also make sure they are transported to consistent care as quickly as possible.
KGAN-TV CBS 2 FOX 28

Lightning Hits Le Mars Home And Causes A Fire

Firefighters were called to the residence at 2490 5th Avenue SE for a house that was on fire. Fire Chief Dave Schipper says the fire was reported at around 4:10 a.m. The structure was hit by a lightning strike, which according to Schipper, created a hole in the roof, and the backside of the home was on fire. Upon arrival everyone had safely evacuated the home. There was visible fire on the southeast corner exterior of the home. The fire had extended from the lower level up the back of the home to the roof. A propane tank located along side of the house was also venting off and feeding the fire. Firefighters made an aggressive exterior attack and knocked the fire down very quickly. Once the fire was knocked down the propane tank was shut-off and rendered safe. Firefighters made entry into the home and encountered light smoke throughout the house.
KLEM AM-1410 & FM-96.9

Follow Up: Des Moines library workers, first responders cope after witnessing man set himself on fire

Workers at the downtown Des Moines' Central Library witnessed a horrific scene Tuesday. A 36-year-old man entered an atrium of the branch at 1:59 p.m. Tuesday, poured a flammable liquid on himself and set himself on fire. One day later, Susan Woody, Des Moines Public Library director, said employees were beginning to cope with what they saw. About 20 employees were working on the floor at the time. Four library employees and a security guard witnessed the event and helped put the fire out. The others evacuated library patrons. "I will never unsee what I saw," she said. "There were people in tears in my office; it was that disturbing." Events like this are traumatic for everyone involved, including witnesses, police and other first responders, Parizek said Wednesday. The police department makes a variety of counseling resources available to its employees to help them cope with traumatic events they witness on the job, Parizek said.
Des Moines Register - Metered Site