As we kick off National EMS Week 2020, we would like to take this time to thank all of our Des Moines Fire Dept. members and employees for all that they do for the City of Des Moines community. ?? Looking back all the way to this time last year, a lot has happened and a lot has changed. That has all been made possible by our dedicated men and women!

With COVID-19, EMS has once again proven to be an extremely trying field of work, and these men and women continue to show up each and every day in order to get the job done!

The City of Des Moines and the entire community continue to support us each and every day, and for that we are extremely thankful!

To our extended group of EMS friends and family from services throughout, Happy National EMS Week to you too! ?? We are all in this together!

Stay safe everyone!

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As most restaurants are closed or providing limited service due to COVID-19, the Wahlberg family – owners of the Wahlburgers restaurant chain – is giving back to fire fighters and other first responders on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wahlburgers launched the #WhateverYouNeed campaign to feed frontline workers in the United States and Canada over a period of nine days.

The Wahlbergs – including Walburgers founders Chef Paul Wahlberg and actors Donnie and Mark Wahlberg – grew up in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood, as did General Secretary-Treasurer Ed Kelly.

“During this COVID-19 pandemic, my family knew we had to step up and make a difference for the people on the frontlines and people in need,” says Mark Wahlberg. “So, with my brother Paul’s talents, we decided to serve as many meals as we could.”

The problem was how to deliver 30,000 meals throughout the United States and Canada. That’s when Wahlberg called on his old pal, Ed Kelly, for assistance.
“I want to thank the Wahlbergs for their generosity,” says Kelly. “Our brother and sister fire fighters are working side-by-side with other first responders, serving citizens during this deadly pandemic. We are all in this together. The #WhateverYouNeed campaign is the perfect demonstration of that concept.”

Working through their district vice presidents, affiliates in the United States and Canada are hosting #WhateverYouNeed events. Wahlburgers provided the meals, and IAFF members distributed the food to their fellow fire fighters, as well as to police stations, medical facilities and locations served by other first responders.

Des Moines Professional Fire Fighters “Local 4 President Joe Van Haalen are proud to host this event benefiting our members and other first responders across the city of Des Moines & West Des Moines,” “This pandemic has challenged all of us. It’s nice to be able to distribute a bit of goodwill.”

In Des Moines, the #WhateverYouNeed campaign is a two-day event (WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY). “Our members have been working hard with other first responders to protect the public during these unprecedented times,” says Local 4 President Joe Van Haalen. “We are thankful for all the hard work from everyone involved to make this event happen.”

Cities receiving Wahlburgers meal deliveries include the following:

Des Moines
New York City
Northern New Jersey
Hartford
Los Angeles
San Francisco Bay Area
Detroit
Orlando
Pittsburgh
Milwaukee
Minneapolis
Kansas City, KS
Toronto

The campaign runs through May 15. Learn more about this partnership and Wahlburgers’ current efforts with the #WhateverYouNeed campaign.

Media Info:
Des Moines Professional Fire Fighters
President Joe Van Haalen
641-230-0680

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DES MOINES, Iowa —
On Sunday, Mayor Frank Cownie issued a state of emergency for the city of Des Moines due to concerns over the coronavirus.

In this proclamation, he prohibited the gathering of more than 250 people on public property. Any permits given by the city to gather in such crowds are now rescinded. He has given the chief of police permission to enforce this proclamation.

Those with 250 or more people on private property are strongly suggested to adjust such plans.

" This Proclamation of emergency and public danger is part of an ongoing response of the City of Des Moines to protect public health and safety and may be modified or superseded with more restrictive proclamations at any time as circumstances warrant," Cownie said in a statement.

This proclamation comes a day after Gov. Kim Reynolds announced a case of COVID-19 in Dallas County, which borders the city of Des Moines. Reynolds confirmed that the coronavirus is now community spread.

"We are confident that we now have community spread (the coronavirus) in our state," Reynolds said. "Community spread occurs when individuals have been infected with the virus and public health cannot specifically identify the source of the infection or determine how or where they became infected."

Sgt. Paul Parizek, with Des Moines police, said the St. Patrick's Day Parade has been canceled.

KCCI TV 8 video

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DES MOINES, Iowa —
A mother and child died Sunday in a Des Moines house fire, according to police.

The Des Moines Police Department said Monday that 40-year-old Tharassa Page and her son, 5-year-old Reginald Page, died in a structure fire at 1325 9th St.

Des Moines police and fire crews responded to the fire Sunday around 10:43 a.m.

According to police, a caller said three people exited the home safely, but Tharassa and Reginald Page were still inside.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

KCCI TV 8 video

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15th Annual GUNS n HOSES charity hockey game....

MARCH 7th, 2020 @ 1 :00 p.m.

Buccaneer's arena, Urbandale, Iowa


Come watch the Firefighters throw the Police Officers in JAIL!!!!!

This years, t-shirts and hoodies are now available at SERVE Credit Union or the Buccaneers games or during the guns n hoses game...


Buccaneer's game to follow at 5:00 p.m.

Tickets - Des Moines Bucs Hockey web site

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#YourDesMoinesFireFighters will be volunteering at the 2019 Jolly Holiday Lights for the Make-A-Wish Foundation In Altoona.

Dec 17, 2019 (Tuesday) & Dec. 22, 2019 (Sunday)

We look forward to see you.

Make-A-Wish® Iowa grants a wish every other day – each one a life-affirming testament to hope, inspiration, and resilience. Wishes strengthen wish kids and their families, rally communities together, and change the lives of everyone involved. Experience the stories of those who know firsthand the power of a wish-come-true.

Jolly Holiday Lights - Make a Wish website

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#YourDesMoinesFireFighters volunteered at Ronald McDonald House in Des Moines.

Thanks so much to everyone that came out!

This organization(the Ronald McDonald House) means a great deal to several of your brothers in Des Moines Professional Fire Fighters - Local #4.

Enclosed is Ronald McDonald House web site so your can volunteer too.

Volunteer for Ronald McDonald House

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DES MOINES, Iowa —
In two wrecks involving ambulances carrying patients in Des Moines, no one was hurt. The city's senior medic is praising the city for funding safety upgrades.

Lt. Tony Sposeto, senior fire medic for Des Moines Fire EMS, watches over a fleet of ambulances each costing $300,000.

"People call us on the worst day of their life," Sposeto said.

He claims the ambulances are like tanks, equipped with new safety measures like air bags, seat belts for medics and liquid ride suspension for a smoother ride.

"If we lose a patient, that would be catastrophic," Sposeto said. "We want to make sure not only our personnel are safe, but the people we serve are safe, as well."

The recent upgrades follow years of bad wrecks across the country. Ambulances are top-heavy by nature, meaning they're prone to flip. Sposeto said these new ambulances were designed to absorb that kind of impact.

"It's very structurally sturdy," Sposeto said. "In a rollover situation, that box will stay put."

Sposeto said air bags are not required in all ambulances.

Last December, four people were sent to the hospital after an ambulance flipped at Sixth and Franklin avenues in Des Moines.

Sposeto said the new airbags would have played a critical role in that incident.

"Literally probably saved not only the city, but taxpayers, thousands, if not millions, of dollars," Sposeto said.

KCCI News 8 VIDEO

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DES MOINES, Iowa —
Crews began tearing down the former Relax Inn on Wednesday to make way for a new fire station.

Des Moines Fire Station 11 will be built at 4144 Hubbell Avenue.

Design, preparation and construction for the new fire station is estimated to cost $8.3 million. Money raised from Des Moines’ local option sales tax will help fund construction.

"(The station) will cut in half the travel distance to the far northeast corner of the city, especially since the 2009 annexations,” Des Moines Fire Chief John Tekippe said. “And as this area develops, both residentially and commercially, there's a greater need for us to be closer to that border."

Relax Inn closed in 2018. Construction of Fire Station 11 is scheduled for completion by spring 2021.

KCCI NEWS 8 video

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JOHNSTON, Iowa -- You clear the snow from your driveway, you clear the snow from your sidewalk ... but there's one thing you may be forgetting to clear.

Metro fire departments are asking you to take a minute to clear the snow from around the fire hydrants on your block. The hydrants are placed close to roads so they are easy for fire trucks to reach. That also makes them susceptible to being buried by snow plows.

You aren't legally responsible to dig out a fire hydrant in front of your house. However if its not clear and a fire breaks out then fire fighters will have to spend their time digging instead of extinguishing flames.

Tristan Johnson with the Johnston Fire Department says if you haven't unburied your fire hydrant yet then now is the time to act. "The more the weather gets cold, we have melting and refreezing, the harder it is to dig out," Johnson says, "The snow kind of gets compacted. The higher the pile gets the heavier it is for us to shovel out."

WHO TV 13 News video

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DMFD Water Rescue

LINK

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