Progress
Health & Wellness 2026
Daily Freeman-Journal The
Webster City Fire Department's formula for excellence
Fire Department safety:
PREVENT. PREPARE. PERFORM. “We take pride in living in, and taking care of Webster City, and we hope our friends and neighbors never need our services. When they do, we go to work to get there quickly and protect as much life and property as possible.”
By ROBERT E. OLIVER When you talk to Webster City Fire Chief Chuck Stansfield you can’t miss his enormous pride in the department. But it would be wrong to conflate that with complacency. When we recently asked him to summarize his department’s mission, he was clear: “prevent, prepare and perform.” More than a slogan, it guides the department every day. Prevent The Webster City Fire Department uses Fire Prevention Week each year to
remind the public of the dangers of fire, and steps everyone can take to prevent it. This year it will be the week of Oct. 4-10. During that week, the Webster City fire fighters visit elementary schools to instruct students in basic fire safety. An evening open house at the firehouse features a fire safety house, a simulated home showing fire hazards and how to avoid them, and a chance to learn how to use fire extinguishers. There will also be an appearance by Oreo, the department’s firedog mascot. A free dinner is usually served to attendees.
According to Stansfield, many home fires start in the kitchen. Smoking in the home and simply turning on the furnace can also be a major cause of fire. If concerned that there are unsafe conditions in a residence, anyone can phone the WCFD at 515-832-9131 to schedule a free home safety survey. Dangerous conditions, obvious to a firefighter, may escape your attention. Homes that do not have smoke detectors may qualify for a free home See FIRE DEPARTMENT, Page 6B
Photo courtesy Webster City Fire Department
In 2025, the Webster City Fire Department answered a call involving a fire which started in a car and spread to an attached garage. With quick intervention and careful strategy, both vehicle and garage were saved with only minor smoke damage to the home itself.
Camp Ignite Her taught fire and rescue safety to young women
Inspiring the next generation By KOLLEEN TAYLOR Fighting fires, and keeping residents safe. “It’s not just for men,” said Webster City Fire Chief Chuck Stansfield. After last summer’s camp for young women, where 14 girls attended Camp Ignite Her, the interest in fire fighting has increased. This first-ever female fire camp offered by the Webster City Fire Department was so successful, the Webster City Fire Department plans to repeat it during the summer of 2026. Amanda Staley, Webster City’s only female firefighter, led the program. For the past five years, Staley has been a member of Webster City Fire. She worked in Duncombe as an EMT and firefighter previously. Staley initiated the idea of establishing a camp to encourage women to take a role in firefighting. “She has always had a passion to try to encourage young girls to get involved with the Fire Department,” Stansfield said. “When she asked if we could try the camp, I said, ‘Let’s do it.’” Staley was pleased with the outcome.
-— Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Kolleen Taylor
Fire Capt. Jeromy Estlund instructs Daytona Duffy on how to open a fire hydrant during the Ignite Her camp in July 2025.
“It went really, really well,” she said. “They learned a lot and hopefully we will get some in the cadet program.” The cadet program has been in place for the last three or four years. Up until last summer, only boys participated. After Camp Ignite Her one of the participants decided to join the cadets, and has been participating this year. “She comes to training and assists, and is learning how to become a firefighter,” Stansfield said.”There are a couple of other gals that we expect to join in the next few years.” The girls who attended the camp ranged from ages 13 to 18. The training gave them a glimpse into the roles and skills needed to become a firefighter. Cadets have to be between the ages of 14 and 18. The cadets start assisting with fire calls and even, though they are young, there are things they are allowed to do. During the initial program, Staley and Webster City Fire Captains Jeromy Estlund and Andy Sowle, Lieutenants Don Zehner and Don Wills, and firefighters Dakota See IGNITE HER, Page 5B