Marion Fly-In 2013 Part 3

Marion, Iowa's annual fly-in and breakfast is held the Sunday prior to July 4th. This year's event expanded with demonstrations from the fire department. Firefighter Phil High supervises the construction set up, fire demonstration and clean-up.

The fire department constructed apartment-like cubicles and positioned couches, tables, etc in the units, then set them on fire. One apartment had a smoke detector and other alarm instruments. The demonstration reinforced how fast fires can start and spread. A crowd watched the firefighters douse the flames.

Kennedy High School (Cougars) annually demonstrate electric car design, construction and racing at the fly-in. They compete with other clubs in the midwest. Several KHS seniors go on to automotive or engineering courses in college and vocational schools.  

At various times during the fly-in, students take the car on the grounds for firsthand demonstrations of driving. The team answers questions about how the car works and what it takes to get involved.

Getting around the fly-in is easy. Perfect weather and lots of planes made for another great fly-in. See you in 2014. 

Marion Fly-in 2013 photos here: Part 1, Part 2.

Brush Fire Contained Near I-380 and Kirkwood - Cedar Rapids

Windy and dry conditions last Saturday provided fuel for a brush fire just off Interstate 380, south of Cedar Rapids. Spectators watched emergency crews from Cedar Rapids, Ely and Swisher arrive to fight the fast moving fire. Some speculated that a discarded cigarette from a vehicle along I-380 started the dry grass on fire. Very strong westerly winds pushed the fire eastward toward the Kirkwood dormitory apartment area.

Emergency crews arrived with brush fighting equipment. Fire fighters dug fire lines while others hosed the flames directly. A construction debris pile containing disgarded plastic pipes, wood and other possible combustibles was comsumed by flames. Crews worked to contain this pile as well as the path to a nearby farm building. At some point during the evening the fire was extinguished.

The next day I compared my photos with that in the local newspaper. My portfolio was on par if not better than what was published - although timing and access was in favor of the newspaper. Know that.

Lisbon House Fire Contained By Multiple Community Firefighters

Yesterday while in Mount Vernon, Iowa one, two, then three fire trucks rolled by. A few minutes later a fourth one sped off to the east towards Lisbon. Camera in hand, it was time to go to see what was happening.

Lisbon is located just a few miles east of Mount Vernon along the Lincoln Highway. Downtown was filled with smoke when we arrived. A house just a block south of Main Street was on fire. 

We arrived on South Jackson Street to see several fire and rescue vehicles trying to contain a one house fire. Many people including some local firefighters from Lisbon were in transit to the UNI dome in Cedar Falls for their local high school football championship game.

As a precaution other town fire departments were recruited to fill in if needed. On this dry, cold and windy day the help was needed.

While the fire remains under investigation the newly remodeled section of the house was the area that received the most damage. The family was away from the home when fire broke out but were onsite during the emergency. Their pet dog did not survive.

Local media present at the scene included KGRG television and the Gazette. Watch and read more about the story here.

Firefighters from Lisbon, Mount Vernon, Mechanicsville and Solon were on the scene - and maybe more. The duration and characteristics of the fire meant that the fire personnel rotated in and out of the house, changed oxygen tanks often and answered to many chiefs. Their combined effort fortunately limited damage to one house. We as a society don't pay these firefighters enough to do what they do.

Soon after the fire was contained, the multiple town crews began to transition into a cleanup and monitor mode. This firefighter had his outfit sprayed to wash off blackened soot. Later in the afternoon the home was secured.

Having the camera present during various times allows for recording some great images. Sometimes the opportunities are simple, like photographing a dragonfly's wings, other times the subjects are more dramatic. Know that.

UPDATE: Olin, Iowa Fire Aftermath - A Call for Living Supplies

The 42N Observations blog site received a lot of page visits today. I discovered the reason was a posting on Craigslist - Des Moines, Iowa regarding the recent fire in Olin, Iowa where the 42N team was on the scene. Click this link for the back story posted yesterday.

Here is the Craigslist  posting from today:

"I got a call today from my sister whose garage and house caught fire on Wednesday, Everything is a total loss due to fire, smoke and water damage. Everyone made it out okay along with 1 of her sons companion dogs, the other companion dog known as Rolly, his 3 legged pooch was found unresponsive under my nieces bed 45min after the flames broke out, thanks to quick thinking firefighters his life was saved. The fire is still under investigation, I don't know anything about insurance as my sister is a total wreck and trying to make sure the kids have a safe place to stay while they work with the police and fire marshall while cleaning up.

Molly
6-8 pants, M-L shirt, 6.5-7 shoe

Chris
33x33 Pants, L shirt, his only pair of shoes are on his feet and he's helping with clean up.

Tanner (boy) Age 11
12 Regular Pants, Size 14 shirt, 6.5 Shoe

Braydon (boy) Age 10
12 Husky Pants, Size14 Shirts, 6 Shoe

Rylee (girl) Age 6
Size 5-6 Pants and Shirts, Unsure of shoe size at this time

Delilah (girl) Age 24 months
24 Month clothes, Size 6 shoe, Still in diapers size 5

Chloe (girl) Age 8 months
9-12 Months, Size 2 Shoes, Size 4 diapers.

They need diapers, wipes, diaper ointment, toiletries, bathroom items, cleaning supplies, laundry soap, pet food, pet supplies any and all household items and supplies.
I can pick up anytime between 8am-3:30pm and 4:30pm-9pm for bigger items, Feel free to call me at 515-971-2194, If anyone has anything they would like to drop off, please email me (sale-ekc4z-1995547645@craigslist.org) and I will give you my address.

Here is a couple links to the story
http://42n.blogspot.com/2010/10/dog-rescued-in-olin-iowa-fire.html
http://www.kwwl.com/Global/story.asp?S=13283716

Let's show some Des Moines Metro Community spirit and give whatever you can give to help it will be much appreciated!"

Help where you can. Know that.

Dog Rescued in Olin, Iowa Fire

Yesterday while traveling the 42N countryside to photograph the Fall harvest, the 42N team came upon Olin, a small town in eastern Iowa at 41.99N, 91.14W. A thick black column of smoke and flames was coming out of a home. We arrived on the scene to find the home owner and kids standing away from the burning garage and home. We lent cell phone assistance to her while the sirens grew louder.

Fire crews from Olin, and nearby Stanwood and Morley communities arrived with several fire fighting trucks, ambulances and support personnel. Mom said that all her kids were out of the home but their three-legged pet dog was still inside.

Crews assembled portable pools of water, filled by tanker trucks to fight the fire. Tanker trucks from other fire departments arrived and filled the pools as there were no close fire hydrants. While this activity unfolded in a span of an hour, fire crews eventually got the garage fire extinguished and stabilized the attached house. About 45 minutes into the situation the home owner asked again about the dog. A fire fighter had searched earlier for the dog but depleted his oxygen supply and was forced to retreat.

Another crew went inside the house and located the dog under something (I didn't hear where.) That defensive action by the dog probably helped save its life. The pet was carried out wrapped in a blue towel - he or she wasn't moving. Many observers thought the worst. Fire fighters brought the dog to the rescue team for oxygen. The home owner (in the white shirt above) saw the rescue procedure and raced over. She knelt close to her dog and talked to him/her while oxygen pumped through the dog's nose.

Finally the dog's tail began to wag and minutes later the three legged pet lifted itself up. This was certainly a positive highlight of the situation among the other points of no loss of human life or injury. The State Fire Marshall has been called in to help determine what happened. News accounts are recorded here and here. When news breaks out - your 42N reporter is there. Know that.

UPDATE: 10/8/2010 - Read the latest request for supplies from the sister of the home owner. Click here.