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 Any permits given by the city to gather in such crowds are now rescinded.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is part of an ongoing response of the City of Des Moines to protect public health and safety and may be modified or superseded with more restrictive proclamations at any time as circumstances warrant," Cownie said in a statement.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
Des Moines police ID mother, child killed in house fire
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
FIND OUT WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A FIREFIGHTER AT DMFD OPEN HOUSE
DES MOINES, IOWA — Tuesday, February 25, 2020 — The Des Moines Fire Department invites anyone interested in becoming a firefighter to join them at an open house this Saturday, Feb. 29 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Fire Department Administration Building (2715 Dean Ave in Des Moines).
The Department is searching for its next class of recruits to serve, lead and save lives as firefighters at the largest and most active fire department in the state. No experience is required to apply and paid training is provided. The Des Moines Fire Department offers great benefits and a starting annual salary of $65k.
Prospective firefighters and members of the media are invited to partake in a series of physical challenges that firefighters face on the job, including ladder raising, ascending stairs while wearing 70+ pounds of equipment, unraveling a 200 ft fire hose and using tools to simulate breaking through walls, ceilings and doors.
The deadline to apply to become a firefighter with the Des Moines Fire Department is 5 p.m. Thursday, March 19. Information on what it takes to become a firefighter can be found at DSM.city/joinDMFD.
City of Des Moines web site - Applications
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
FireFighters volunteering at Jolly Holiday Lights Tues & Sunday
#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
Des Moines Fire Fighters volunteer at Ronald McDonald House
#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
New ambulance features to keep medics, patients safer while en route
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
City begins demolition of metro motel to build fire station
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
Fire Departments Ask for Help in Keeping Fire Hydrants Clear During Snow Storms
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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