DATE & TIME:  09/28/2023 1:53 PM
INCIDENT TYPE:  Structure Fire
ADDRESS/LOCATION:  970 Olive Street

The Dubuque Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call on Thursday, September 28, 2023, at 1:51 PM from a homeowner reporting heavy black smoke in the apartment attached to their residence with smoke detectors activated. The Dubuque Fire Department was dispatched to the scene at 1:53 PM. Initial responding vehicles included Command 528, Engine 501, Ladder 511, Medic 551, Engine 505, and Ladder 512. Engine 503 was added after the initial dispatch to add the standard 3-engine response. The response brought 18 firefighters in total on the fire alarm.

The first unit, Command 528, arrived on scene within 3 minutes of dispatch, established Olive Command, conducted a size up with nothing showing from the exterior and directed the initial companies to investigate. Initial fire crews completed a 360 walk around reporting light smoke on the first floor. The owners reported all occupants were out of the structure. Firefighters stretched a hose line to the front door and made entry reporting light smoke with low heat levels. After clearing the first floor, crews discovered heavy smoke and high heat in the basement. A fire was discovered in a crawl space beneath the first floor. Crews applied water and knocked down the fire within 12 minutes of arrival. Crews worked to clear the building of smoke and confirmed no further extension beyond the crawl space. The fire was determined to be accidental in nature and electrical related. The building was determined to be uninhabitable due to damage to the electrical service resulting in no power. One tenant and two owners were being relocated to a hotel with assistance from their insurance agent. Damage the crawl space and electrical service were estimated at $5000.

The Dubuque Fire Department was assisted on scene by the Dubuque Police Department. There were no injuries to responders or occupants were reported.

Media Contacts:  
Division Chief David Grass, 563.589.4172,  Dgrass@cityofdubuque.org
Fire Marshal Kevin Esser, 563.589.4161, Kesser@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.