DATE & TIME: August 8th @ 10:54pm 
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
ADDRESS/LOCATION: 2441 Broadway St. Dubuque, Iowa

The Dubuque Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at 10:53 PM from a resident reporting his porch, at the rear of his home, was on fire with flames visible. A Dubuque Police Officer, in the area, arrived reporting a fully-engulfed porch fire and expelled his fire extinguisher on the flames.

The Dubuque Fire Department was dispatched to the scene at 10:54 PM. Responding vehicles included Engine 503, Command 528, Engine 501, Ladder 511, Medic 551, Engine 506, and Ladder 512. The response brought 16 firefighters in total on the initial alarm.

The first unit, Engine 503, arrived on scene within 3 minutes of dispatch, reported a fire on the rear porch, established command, and requested a fire hydrant. A fire hose was stretched to the backyard and water flowed until the fire was knocked down after 9 minutes. Later arriving crews connected the fire hydrant and made entry inside the residence reporting light smoke conditions with no fire extension on all floors. The fire did extended into the porch roof. Crews had to remove ceiling from the porch and interior kitchen area during overhaul. Crews worked to clear the building of smoke and confirmed no further extension within the residence. The fire was determined to be accidental in nature due to improperly discarded smoking materials as determined by the Dubuque Fire Department Assistant Fire Marshal. The owners and occupants made alternate lodging plans, and both were to assess damages in the morning. The residents were assisted in locating their two cats. No injuries to firefighters or occupants were reported. Crews remained on scene for two hours overhauling, cleaning gear and investigating.

Media Contacts:  
Division Chief Dave Grass, 563.589.4172, dgrass@cityofdubuque.org
Assistant Fire Marshal Derek Paulson, 563.589.4195, dpaulson@cityofdubuque.org

Please do not reply to this message. For incident-specific information, please contact the staff identified in the message above.  For general fire and emergency medical services information, visit www.cityofdubuque.org/fire or contact the Dubuque Fire Department at 563.589.4160 or fire@cityofdubuque.org.  

In an emergency, always call 9-1-1. For non-emergency dispatch, call 563.589.4415.