The increase of fire occurrences in the last months has not gone unnoticed by City officials. Members of the Fort Madison Police Department, Fort Madison Fire Department, State of Iowa Fire Marshal’s Office, Lee County Sheriffs Office and most recently the ATF are working side by side to find answers to the cause of these fires.
Fire Chief Joey Herron and I have dedicated extra personnel to assist in finding these answers. As Mayor Brad Randoph stated in the Daily Democrat on Tuesday, November 27, 2012, we have been given considerable resources to see that we find that answer. Fire Chief Herron and I are appreciative that the State Fire Marshal’s Office and ATF have committed to assisting our efforts.
I want to assure the public that we are taking these fires very serious and that we will take all steps possible to find answers as to how and why these fires are occurring. I would like the public to understand that this is an ongoing active investigation and that we cannot comment on specific details at this time. As the investigation progresses, we may have more information to provide to the public. We are still asking that anyone having information regarding these fires, please contact the Fort Madison Police Department at 319-372-2525 ext 276 or the Iowa Department of Public Safety Arson Hotline at 1-800-532-1459