City of Fort Dodge, Iowa

2 days ago

Public Hearing Notice
The City of Fort Dodge will be holding a Public Hearing to review an application for a State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan on September 8, 2025 at 6p in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Click the link for the full notice.
www.fortdodgeiowa.org/egov/apps/document/center.egov?view=item&id=16081 Public Hearing Notice
The City of Fort Dodge will be holding a Public Hearing to review an application for a State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan on September 8, 2025 at 6p in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Click the link for the full notice.
www.fortdodgeiowa.org/egov/apps/document/center.egov?view=item&id=16081 ... See moreSee less

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2 days ago

MEDIA RELEASE
AUGUST 6, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RE: BUILDING FIRE, AMIGOS, 280 S 1ST ST,

At 4:03 this morning, the Fort Dodge Fire Department responded to reports of smoke coming from Amigos at 280 S 1st St.

Upon arrival at the 1-story building, fire crews observed smoke coming from the attic and rear of the structure. Fire attack, search and ventilation procedures were immediately initiated. The fire was significantly involved in the attic and on the south side of the structure. Multiple handlines were required to bring the fire under control, and an extensive overhaul of the fire area was conducted.

A second alarm was called, bringing back five off-duty firefighters to staff the station and additional resources to the scene, including Ladder 1. A total of 18 Fort Dodge Fire Department personnel were on-site for about three hours. One firefighter sustained a non-life-threatening injury.

The building is currently owned by MWC, LLC, and investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.

The Fort Dodge Fire Department was assisted by the Fort Dodge Police Department and Mid-American Energy.

Contact: Fire Chief Matt Price, mprice@fortdodgeiowa.orgPhotos from City of Fort Dodge Government s post ... See moreSee less

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1 week ago

July is not just about fireworks and summer fun-it s also a time to celebrate our incredible team members who have dedicated their talents and hard work to our city! Let s give a big shout-out to our amazing employees celebrating their work anniversaries this month! ... See moreSee less

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1 week ago

I would like to address various questions, comments and concerns I have received from Monday s severe weather event.

1. Sirens - Sirens are for OUTDOOR warning. They are not meant or built-out to be heard indoors. Sirens are strategically placed to ensure outdoor coverage, NOT indoors. If that was the purpose, we would need to more than double the amount of sirens we have. You should have multiple ways to receive warnings. (NOAA weather radio, Alert Iowa, Local News apps, etc.). Sirens are not meant to wake you up, as stated before, they are for OUTDOOR warning!
If you hear the siren, that means go indoors and check local weather because severe weather/tornado is imminent.

2. Siren Activation - Sirens are activated for a couple reasons.
--Tornado Warning.
--Severe Thunderstorm with 70mph+ winds and/or Golf ball size hail (1.75').
The EMA Commission approved the addition of wind and hail in 2023, to follow the Iowa Emergency Management Association best practices.
Sirens are only activated within the warned polygon. If the siren is located outside of the warned area, the siren will not go off, unless prompted for a manual activation by authorized personnel.
The siren will sound for 3 minutes during a warning. If the siren activates again, that means a new/updated warning has been issued for the same area. There is NO all clear siren. Each warning has an expiration time, that would be the time that event is outside of the warning criteria.

3. Why did the sirens go off so long before the storm? This storm in particular was moving 50-60mph. The National Weather Service issued the warning well ahead of the storm, to allow people time to check weather, and prepare for what is coming. Therefore, when that Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued with 70mph wind gusts, the sirens were activated immediate upon issuance. Not every instance allows for that much advanced notification.

4. Sirens not as loud as Saturday Test - the siren tone during warnings is just as loud as the Saturday test. The pitch of the siren in the warning is a steady tone, which differs from the wail of the Saturday test.

5. The sirens are another tool for us to use to warn people. We still need the public to be responsible, and take some initiative to understand what to do BEFORE the storm happens, not question what to do when the siren goes off.

If anyone has any further questions, please email dylan.hagen@webstercountyia.gov ... See moreSee less

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