The Waterloo Fire Department closed out a demanding 2024, marked by large-scale flood events, an increase in structure fires, serious motor vehicle crashes, and a record-breaking call volume.
Over the past year, the department responded to 468 calls — more than 100 additional calls compared to previous years. Despite the heightened demand, the department successfully recruited several new members and prioritized training initiatives to enhance preparedness and leadership skills.
Many members, including all three chiefs, a captain, and several lieutenants, completed leadership programs such as Fire Officer 1 and HazMat Incident Command. These trainings are critical in ensuring effective responses to complex emergency situations.
In addition to emergency response efforts, members dedicated significant time to ongoing skill development and community safety initiatives.
“We thank the community for their continued support,” the department stated. “As we move into 2025, we remain committed to serving, protecting, and volunteering our time for Waterloo.”
The Waterloo Fire Department looks ahead to another year of service, ready to face new challenges with the same dedication and resilience that defined 2024.
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