Decorah Fire Department had a busy year

Decorah Fire Chief Mike Ashbacher says the fire department responded to 135 calls from October 1st of last year through September 30th of this year.

Of those 135 calls, 69 were from within in the city limits and 66 were from rural areas.  In all, Decorah Fire Department volunteers spent a total of 1,610 hours of time on those calls.

Ashbacher says the 135 "incidents" included both fires and vehicle rescues.  The Decorah Fire Department now responds to every car accident that involves personal injuries.  That's because serious car crashes can involve hazardous chemicals or the use of Jaws of Life rescue equipment.