FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: 04/04/2024 Contact: Lee Hermiston, Public Safety Information Officer Phone: 319-356-5095
Iowa City Fire Department celebrates promotions, new hires, cardiac arrest saves
The Iowa City Fire Department celebrated promotions, new firefighters, and cardiac arrest saves at a ceremony on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at Terry Trueblood Lodge.
Promotions
Thomas Hartshorn was promoted to Captain in June 2023. Capt. Hartshorn, hired in 2014, previously served as a Lieutenant beginning in 2017 and the department's training officer, overseeing all department training, as well as the academy for new fire recruits. Capt. Hartshorn is a Credentialed Fire Officer through the Center for Public Safety Excellence and has a Master’s Degree from St. Ambrose University. Capt. Hartshorn is assigned to B-Shift.
Matt Boerjan was promoted to Lieutenant in June 2023 after serving with ICFD since June 2014. Lt. Boerjan is a graduate of Iowa City West High School and earned a Fire Science degree from Columbia Southern University. Lt. Boerjan's certifications include Firefighter 1 and 2, EMT-B, Hazmat Technician, Fire officer 1, Fire Instructor 1, Live Fire Instructor, Driver/Operator, Critical Skills Diver, Scott Air Specialist Technician, and Child Passenger Seat Technician. Lieutenant Boerjan is a member of the Special Operations Response Team, IA-TF1 Urban Search and Rescue, SCBA Maintenance, Johnson County Metro Dive Team, Live Fire Instructor, and is the lead for the ICFD Emergency Services Youth Camp.
Lt. Boerjan is assigned to C-Shift, Station 4.
New members
(L-R) Caleb Stivers, Bri Roose, Emma Hall, Jonathan Wieland, Brett Becker, Mohamed Bashir, Jordan Siddell
Jordan Siddell was hired on Aug. 15, 2022. FF Siddell is a graduate of Solon High School and earned a Fire Science degree from Kirkwood Community College. FF Siddell's certifications include Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Hazmat Tech, and EMT. FF Siddell is assigned to Station 1, B-Shift.
Jonathan Wieland was hired on Dec. 12, 2022. FF Wieland is from Lone Tree and earned a degree in Fire Science from Kirkwood Community College. FF Wieland is also certified through the University of Iowa's Emergency Medical Services Learning Resources Center's paramedic program. FF Wieland previously served as a Lieutenant with the Muscatine Fire Department. His Certifications include Firefighter II, Hazmat Technician, Paramedic, Inspector I, Instructor I, and Officer I. FF Wieland is assigned to B-Shift, Station 1.
Mohamed Bashir was hired on July 11, 2022. FF Bashir is a graduate of Kirkwood Community College and formerly served with the Coralville Volunteer Fire Department. He also previously worked in the City's Resource Management Division. FF Bashir's certifications include Firefighter I and II, Hazmat Ops, and EMT/ NREMT. He is assigned to A-Shift, Station 4.
Bri Roose was hired on March 17, 2023. FF Roose is a graduate from Solon High School and the University of Iowa. FF Roose's certifications include Firefighter I and II, Hazmat Ops, Instructor I, BLS Instructor, and EMT/NREMT. She is also a member of the North Liberty Fire Department.
Caleb Stivers was hired on March 18, 2023. FF Stivers is a graduate of Pleasant Valley High School and earned a bachelor's degree in Organizational Leadership through the University of Charleston, West Virginia. FF is a veteran of the United States Army and his certifications include Firefighter I, Hazmat Ops and Awareness, and EMT/NREMT. He is assigned to C-Shift, Station 1.
Emma Hall was hired on March 19, 2023. FF Hall is a graduate of Liberty High School and Kirkwood Community College. FF Hall’s certifications include Firefighter 1 and 2, Hazmat Ops, Instructor 1, NREMT-P. Hall is also a member of the North Liberty Fire Department and Johnson County Ambulance Service. She is assigned to B-Shift, Station 1.
Brett Becker was hired on March 20, 2023. FF Becker graduated from West High School and earned a bachelor's degree in Emergency Management with a Fire Science concentration from Waldorf University. FF Becker served with the United States Army for 22 years and is a Company First Sergeant in the Army Reserve with the 345th Ground Ambulance Company. FF Becker's certifications include Firefighter I and II, Driver Operator Pumper, Driver Operator Aerial, Hazardous Materials Technician, Critical Care Paramedic, IBSC Tactical Paramedic, Fire Instructor I and II, Fire Officer I and II, and Inspector I. He is assigned to C-Shift, Station 1.
Lifesaving Award
FF Cameron Reese was given ICFD's Lifesaver Award for his efforts during in incident in 2022.
On March 26, 2022, FF Reese was home and off-duty when his 2-year-old neighbor experienced an apparent febrile seizure, which in turn caused the child's airway to become obstructed. The child's father, recognizing that the child was both seizing and choking, quickly determined the child needed immediate care and rushed him to FF Reese's front door.
Home security video shows FF Reese opening his door to find his neighbor holding the child, who was not breathing and was experiencing discoloration due to the lack of oxygen. In an instant, FF Reese began lifesaving efforts on the child while directing the father to call 911 for additional help. FF Reese quickly cleared the child's airway, allowing for breathing to return.
Paramedics arrived on scene to find FF Reese continuing to provide care for the child, who was to UIHC for further recovery and evaluation. Without FF Reese's quick actions, the child likely would have died.
Cardiac arrest saves
In 2023, the Iowa City Fire Department responded to 50 calls in which a patient was in cardiac arrest. Through the efforts of civilians, Iowa City firefighters, and other responding agencies involved in the chain-of-survival, eight of these patients were able to leave the hospital and return to a normal life, representing a 16 percent out of hospital cardiac arrest save rate. The national average is around 10 percent.
ICFD members involved in these cardiac arrest saves were recognized at the ceremony.
