07/05/2026
As we head into our final night of celebrating Independence Day, I wanted to personally share an update and simply say...thank you, Clinton City.
Over the past three days, you've given us a lot to be proud of. We had zero fires on the first day and zero fires on the second day. Last night, on the Fourth of July, was certainly our busiest night, as many of you experienced. Even with all the fireworks being enjoyed across the city, we responded to only two very small grass fires. Both were handled by a single brush truck and extinguished in about a minute. I even got to participate in a gender reveal with blue fireworks to find out that one of our Clinton families are having a little baby boy! Congratulations!!
Those results don't happen by accident. They happen because of you.
Over the past few days, I had the chance to drive through many of our neighborhoods, visit with residents, and see families enjoying time together. I was reminded once again why Clinton City is such a special place. Everywhere I went, I saw people looking out for one another.
I saw hoses already connected and ready to use. I saw buckets of water sitting next to fireworks. I saw neighbors helping neighbors and families taking the time to clean up before moving on to the next firework. Those may seem like small things, but they make a tremendous difference. They help keep your family safe, they protect your neighbors, and they allow our firefighters to stay available for the emergencies that truly matter.
As Fire Chief, I couldn't be more proud of this community. Your preparedness, your common sense, and your willingness to do your part have made this holiday one of the safest we've had in recent years.
We still have tonight to go, so I'm asking everyone to finish strong. Please continue to celebrate responsibly, keep water nearby, thoroughly soak used fireworks before disposing of them, and be mindful of the dry conditions around your home and neighborhood.
Thank you for making safety a priority while still enjoying this great holiday. It is truly an honor to serve this community and to work alongside firefighters who are always ready to respond when needed.
Have a wonderful and safe evening, Clinton City. Let's finish this Independence Day celebration the same way we've started it looking out for one another.
Sincerely Chief Poulsen