The entire community is invited to celebrate the Iowa City Fire Department's 150th anniversary at the Iowa City Noon Optimist Club's fly-in/drive-in pancake breakfast at the Iowa City Airport, 1801 S. Riverside Drive, on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022.

In addition to airplanes, plane rides, antique cars, and pancakes, the event will feature members of the fire department, past and present fire equipment, historical photographs and more. 

About the Iowa City Fire Department

On May 20, 1872, the Iowa City City Council agreed to purchase $500 worth of fire fighting equipment following a large fire in the Downtown business area. That equipment was used by a new volunteer company, Rescue Hook and Ladder Company #1. The fire department remained all-volunteer until three firefighters were hired in 1912.

These days, the Iowa City Fire Department is made up of 64 personnel and four fire stations, providing fire protection, emergency medical service and public education to more than 25 square miles of service area. The department responded to 8,106 calls in 2021, including 4,208 emergency medical service calls, 1,534 fire calls, 295 hazardous condition calls, 243 technical rescue calls, and 1,826 "other" calls such as assisting the public or false alarms.

The event takes place from 7 a.m. to noon. Tickets are $7 per person and can be purchased at the event. Proceeds from the event benefit local youth charities.

410 E. Washington St. Iowa City, Iowa 52240 319-356-5000 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday