Cedar County Emergency Management reflects on 6 months using new 911 radio network

VIDEO: Leaders with Cedar County Emergency Management are calling a six-month-old update to a 911 radio network life-changing. Up until October 2023, 911 dispatchers were operating on just one radio channel to communicate with law enforcement, paramedics, and firefighters. So if there was a fire call and a life-emergency call at the same time, they would have to interrupt either channel depending on each situation and how it unfolds. “Prior to this system, we couldn’t talk to the fire departments, ambulances, we were on a stand-alone system. We couldn’t talk with the state patrol or the surrounding counties,” said Cedar County Sheriff Warren Wethington. Now, they’re able to operate on multiple channels to serve more residents -- 99.2 percent of county residents, to be exact.
KCRG-TV ABC 9 Cedar Rapids

Appliance blamed for kitchen fire in Northwood

A faulty appliance is being blamed for a kitchen fire in Worth County. The Northwood Volunteer Fire & EMS Company says crews were called to the 500 block of 9th Street N around 5:19 pm Wednesday. Worth County sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene first and used fire extinguishers to contain the flames. Firefighters then arrived to ventilate the home. The kitchen suffered moderate fire damage and there was smoke damage throughout the home. The cause of the fire has been ruled electric appliance failure. Northwood Fire & EMS responded to the scene with 11 firefighters, 1 fire engine, 1 ambulance and 1 brush truck.
KIMT-TV CBS 3 Mason City

Iowa City Fire Department partners with Community Connect to improve emergency responses

The Iowa City Fire Department (ICFD) is looking to improve emergency response efforts through a new partnership with Community Connect. The platform allows residents and business owners to share information, allowing firefighters to better protect lives and property. Residents and businesses can register for free on Community Connect, providing details like property layout, occupants, and emergency contact information. ICFD says all data will be securely stored and accessible only to first responders during emergencies, helps firefighters plan and execute responses more effectively.
KGAN-TV CBS 2 Cedar Rapids

Council Bluffs wildland firefighters team with Pottawattamie County specialist to fight fire with fire

VIDEO: It may seem counterproductive, setting fire when flames are already tearing through acres of land. It's actually a tactic known as back burning, and it's used to fight wildland fires. "It's a lot less dangerous for firefighters, and there are no resources lost," Chad Graeve, Pottawattamie County natural resource specialist, said. "It was real advantageous." Fires like the one on April 11 that sparked just north of Council Bluffs along I-80. "The fire was spotting so far ahead of itself," Graeve said. You had the main fire and a new hot spot, sometimes 150 feet ahead of it. We didn't have time to work off of something and backfire. So we had to go way ahead, find a better spot to backfire off of so that it wouldn't jump that and really create a lot of black."
KETV ABC 7 Omaha