FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: 10/04/2023 Contact: Lee Hermiston, Public Safety Information Officer Phone: 319-356-5095
Iowa City Fire Department responds to fire
The Iowa City Fire Department was dispatched to a vegetation fire behind 1401 S. Gilbert St. at 1:56 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2023. Within a minute of the initial dispatch, the call was upgraded to a structure fire due to its location in an encampment and proximity to a building.
ICFD crews were able to extinguish the fire within 15 minutes of arrival. There were no reported injuries to civilians or firefighters and no buildings were damaged. The fire remains under investigation by the Iowa City Fire Marshal's Office.
Wednesday's fire demonstrates the challenges faced by individuals without housing living in our community. Over the past several months, Shelter House's Street Outreach Specialist - a position created through a partnership with City of Iowa City - has worked with the individuals living in this encampment to secure access to housing and other resources. A statement from Shelter House can be found here.
The City will continue to work with Shelter House and other community partners to connect vulnerable members of the community with safe housing and the resources they need. In the past 12 months, the Street Outreach Specialist has engaged with 191 individuals living outside in our community. Among those, 85 individuals are now living in safe and affordable housing.
Community members wishing to support Shelter House's efforts to provide stable housing to all in our community are encouraged to visit their website.
