Alta Vista Firefighters Association

06/02/2026

See you THIS Wednesday!

Come join us!

05/25/2026

05/20/2026

Thank you to all who serve our communities in the EMS field!

Happy National EMS Week!

This week, we are celebrating the dedication, sacrifice, and lifesaving care provided by Chickasaw County Rescue Squad & First Responders.

Our team is trained to handle the unexpected. From complex technical rescues to critical medical emergencies, these individuals are ready for any situation at a moment's notice. Often, our First Responders are the very first faces you see on the scene, providing vital care before the ambulance arrives.

A HUGE Thank You to Our Members! Our dedicated members are spread throughout every corner of the county and because they are rooted deep within our communities, they ensure that our citizens receive the fastest, best possible care when it matters most.

To our EMRs, EMTs, Paramedics, and RNs: thank you for your unwavering commitment to keeping Chickasaw County safe. We appreciate you this week and every single day!

05/19/2026

Mark your calendars for our annual golf tournament! Come join us for a great day on June 8th.

Contact Mike Panos if you have any questions.

We hope to see you there!

05/15/2026

Thank you to Tossed & Found of Elma for your generous grant award! Drip torches are used for lighting controlled burns.

Elma’s Tossed & Found thrift store awards 10 grants for area community betterment

The Tossed & Found thrift store in Elma awarded $5000 to 10 area non-profit organizations for community betterment projects in the area on April 30th. The 10 recipients & their projects were:
1. Riceville Community Foundation Inc. awarded $250 for a new steel roof project at the park.
2. Alta Vista Public Library awarded $250 toward new Library signage project.
3. Elma Early Childhood Center was awarded $250 toward an infant room black-out curtain project.
4. Wapsi-Great Western Line Trail Association was awarded $500 toward an informational kiosk at Lylah’s Marsh project.
5. Elma Depot Museum was awarded $1000 toward the Phase II Elma Trail sealcoating project.
6. Alta Vista Fire Department was awarded $250 toward the purchase of new drip torches used in controlled burns project.
7. Elma Fire & Rescue was awarded $1000 toward the purchase of a new pumper/tanker truck project.
8. Elma Girls Scouts was awarded $500 toward replenishment supplies fort the Elma Food Pantry project.
9. American Legion Post #597 in Elma was awarded $500 toward replacing community flags project.
10. Lourdes Park & Rec Association was awarded $500 toward a park playground landscaping project.
Tossed & Found is volunteer-run, non-profit thrift store under the fiscal arm of the BRIDGE Organization, opened in June of 2017. Staffed by local volunteers, the store takes in donations of used housewares, home & yard décor, jewelry, linens, toys, shoes, clothing, children’s books, games & puzzles, outdoor gear, sporting equipment and more in GOOD working conditions and sells them with proceeds given back to the Elma area in the form of charitable grants. The grants are given out in two cycles annually, March and September applications are submitted, with the awards judged and funds give each following month. To date, Tossed & Found has awarded amounts of at least $5000 each cycle (sometimes larger depending upon recent sales volume). With the April 2026 awards, the store has given out a total of over $60,900 in charitable grants to area non-profit groups toward community betterment projects in the Elma. Alta Vista, Lourdes & Riceville communities to date. To learn more about Tossed & Found or to drop off donated items, please contact co-managers Shannon Gebel at 563-379-0999 or Callie Weigel at 641-220-3073. The Tossed & Found thrift store is located at 321 Main Street in Elma and is currently open Monday/Wednesday 5:00-7:00 p.m., Tuesday/Thursday 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. and every other Saturday 8:00 a.m.-12:00 noon with the open Saturdays in May falling on the 9th & 23rd.

05/11/2026

Our newest members Bryce Druvenga and James Frantzen recently completed their Firefighter I and Hazmat trainings. These classes consist of over 100 hours of classroom-based and hands-on training to prepare them for the fire service.

05/04/2026

Today is international firefighter day. Thank you to all who give their all to protect lives and property!

05/02/2026

We are setup and ready to serve you at our Omelet Breakfast tomorrow morning! Please share!

04/30/2026

Did you know every firefighter on our department is a trained storm spotter? ⛈️

April monthly training was storm spotter class!

Thank you to the US National Weather Service La Crosse Wisconsin for another educational session!

04/24/2026

We would like to thank the Chickasaw County Community Foundation for their generous grant award. The Alta Vista Fire Department was awarded $10,000 toward battery-powered ventilation fans. These fans are used to help clear smoke from a building/home by positive pressure.

Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa

Yesterday, the Chickasaw County Community Foundation (CCCF) celebrated the power of local giving at its 2026 Grant Awards, held April 16 at the New Hampton Community Center, announcing the distribution of $155,185.23 to 24 projects serving Chickasaw County through its 2026 grant cycle.

Supporting initiatives across health and safety, opportunity and access, vibrant communities, and youth empowerment, these grants will fund a wide range of impactful projects, from emergency response equipment and food access to community facility improvements, and public spaces. This year’s funding reflects the generosity of local donors and the dedication of nonprofit organizations, volunteers, and community leaders working to strengthen Chickasaw County.

Congratulations to all of this year’s grant recipients, and thank you to our volunteer impact committee for your thoughtful leadership in this process.

🔗 See the full list of grant recipients and learn more: https://bit.ly/4mAGOYo