Cold temps wreak havoc with equipment at Maquoketa fire

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By Sheri Melvold | Sunday, January 20, 2008 |

MAQUOKETA, Iowa — The below zero temperatures caused many problems with equipment as firefighters from 18 departments in four counties battled a blaze that destroyed at least five Main Street buildings.

Maquoketa Fire Chief Mark Beck said the Maquoketa aerial truck had mechanical issues. The aerial truck from Eldridge, Iowa, also seized up because of the cold. A pumper from DeWitt also had problems and had to return to DeWitt on Saturday afternoon. Most of the equipment failures happened later in the morning after the fire started about 2 a.m.

It was 5 degrees below zero when the fire started and the high for the day in Maquoketa was 3 below zero.

“A lot of the equipment is freezing up,” Beck said. “And the guys are cold and wet.”

Warming stations were set up at the Main Street Cafe across from the fire on Main Street and JR’s Wine and Spirits on Olive Street behind the buildings.

The American Red Cross also set up for food and shelter at the Maquoketa Community Center and helped at the two downtown warming stations.

“We set these up nearby because nobody would leave,” Jennifer Moritz, the wife of the deputy chief, said.

The firemen’s wives also provided heating pads, socks, hand and foot warmers and fresh clothes.

“I brought sweatshirts and I’m not sure who they’re on,” she said. “We’re on our third bottle of Motrin. The guys are hurting from the falls. We are keeping positive and encouraging for them. They are so exhausted. We have really been overwhelmed by the community support. It is just so sad to go out there. I can’t believe it, it’s so shocking.”

On a night when the wives and girlfriends would have been treated to the annual firemen’s banquet, they were handing out sandwiches and warm gloves. The caterer for the banquet had already cooked the prime rib. So she brought it downtown and it was served as sandwiches to the firefighters.

Main Street Cafe, located across from the fire, was open all day, only to firefighters. Mega Ajroja, owner, said he’s been at the business since 3 a.m.

“We just wanted to help,” he said. “We’ve served tons of sandwiches.”

Volunteers began bringing food and helped to make sandwiches.

Jim Evilsizer of Spragueville, Iowa, brought 40 pounds of pulled pork as well as buns donated from local businesses.

“I heard the news and I had some pulled pork, so I just brought it down. There were two full roasters and it would have served about 150 people. It’s just giving back to the community,” Evilsizer said.

Teenager Kalli Muhlhausen had been helping serve the firefighters since before dawn. Her dad, Al, is the assistant fire chief.

“It’s just what firemen’s wives and children do. We come out to help,” she said. “They have our hearts and we have their backs.”

The city desk can be contacted at (563) 383-2450 or newsroom@qctimes.com.