A closer look at the OVFD

The Osceola Volunteer Fire Department has had a busy year, starting with a house fire they put out on New Year’s Eve into New Year’s Day.

Fire Chief Mike Fry has been on the OVFD since February of 1996. He has seen the group of firefighters fluctuate from roughly 18 to 24 on average. The highest number he can remember is 30 firefighters serving at one time. At present, the OVFD has 25 firefighters serving.

The firefighters partake in two trainings a month, which last about three hours each time. The Fire Service requires 24 hours of training a year. The OVFD easily surpasses that requirement. The firefighters are trained on interior fire attack, search and rescue and ice rescue along with other types of trainings.

The majority of the trainings take place in the fire station, but some firefighters choose to take education classes through the Fire Service Bureau in fire schools.

The OVFD had to use both search and rescue training and interior fire attack training skills in the month of January.

When the call came in for the house fire on New Year’s Eve, they knew that there was most likely a person inside. Normally they would try to search for the person or “sweep the house” first in that situation.

When they arrived, the interior of the house was already in flames so they had to put out the fire first. Firefighters extinguished the fire, then began to search for anyone that had been inside. The search lasted until 2 a.m. New Year’s Day.

At that point they found nothing and were able to go home.

Fry and Mike Henry, first assistant fire chief went back to the scene the following Tuesday afternoon to continue the search. It was then that they found the person who had died in the fire. Fry and Henry called the Osceola Police Department and the Clarke County Ambulance to the scene.

Photos were taken and the body was transported to Ankeny for positive identification. No ID has been released yet.

The OVFD had to postpone its ice rescue training to respond to a smoke filled-house on Jan. 13.

The firefighters were preparing to do an ice rescue training on Jan. 13 at East Lake Park when they had to switch gears and use their search and rescue training skills to pull a woman from a smoke-filled house on Elk Street in rural Clarke County.

The woman was taken to a Des Moines hospital and her identity has not been released.

Firefighters will be doing their ice rescue training at a later date.

Fire Chief Fry has simple tips to follow that could help avoid house fires in the winter months.

“Watch your space heaters, avoid overloading circuits and don’t have multiple space heaters plugged into power strips,” said Fry. “It’s all common sense stuff.”

In his 22 years on the OVFD, Fry has seen many examples of what not to do. In one home that caught fire, Fry saw three space heaters, one fan, a TV and video game console all plugged into one power strip.

“A lot of times, fires this time of year are electrical,” said Fry.

The OVFD has 25 men that are willing to answer the call anytime they are needed. The group likes to have fun together and work hard.

“There’s one attitude in the station, but when we roll out of here and go on a call it’s all business,” said Fry. “It’s a pretty good bunch of guys.”

To join the Osceola Volunteer Fire Department, visit the city’s website at osceolaia.net and fill out an application. Applicants must be 18 years or older and out of high school.

“I want people that are energized, willing to jump in and help, do whatever they’re asked to do and show up,” said Fry.