Fire and ambulance reports for March 6; fire chief outlines burn ban guidelines to commission

MOUND CITY – The Linn County Commissioners heard reports from the fire department and American Medical Response (AMR) ambulance services on Monday, March 6.

Linn County Fire Chief Randy Hegwald reminded the commissioners this week was severe weather week and the sirens will be tested on Wednesday at 10 a.m.

Hegwald told the commissioners that he was basing burn bans on the wind speed. Anything with sustained winds over 20 miles per hour and gusts in the 40 mph range will call for a burn ban. He said that he was going off of the National Weather Service predictions.

Hegwald reported that there were 11 incidents during the past week, five were on Saturday. The total for 2023 is 74.

The weekly fire summary for the week ending March 5, broke down the incidents as two grass fires; two motor vehicle accidents with no injuries; one electrical wiring/equipment program; one arcing, shorted electrical equipment; one dispatched and canceled en route; one fire, other; one building fire; one passenger vehicle fire; and one brush or brush-grass fire mixture.

AMR operating manager Galen Anderson told the commissioners that calls had picked up in March with 11 calls the past week.

Anderson told the commissioners that AMR in Linn County still had one position that needed to be filled.