County Fire Departments Combat Fire and Ice

          Hedrick Fire Department responded to a large house fire at 105 2^nd St. in Martinsburg on Jan. 6. The department was paged at 11:53 a.m. and arrived on scene at 11:58 a.m. Hedrick brought two trucks, and six members of the department. Shortly after arriving, Sigourney Fire Department was requested for more manpower. Also assisting were Richland, Ollie, Fremont and Packwood Fire Departments; Hedrick QRS; Keokuk County Deputies; Keokuk County Ambulance; and Wayne and Sandy Smithart with the Disaster Assistance Team. The house was a complete loss and the cause of the fire is undetermined.

          “I was very impressed and thankful for all the firefighters and volunteers who assisted. We faced many obstacles with the snow and freezing temperatures,” said Hedrick’s Fire Chief Steve Copeland.