Lewis Township Fire & Rescue

07/30/2026

Congratulations Chief Schoening! Well deserved!

Mayor Jill Shudak Announces Robert Schoening as New Fire Chief of the Council Bluffs Fire Department

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Mayor Jill Shudak is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert Schoening as the next Chief of the Council Bluffs Fire Department following a comprehensive national search and selection process.

A proud product of the Council Bluffs Fire Department, Chief Schoening has dedicated more than 20 years to serving the residents of Council Bluffs. Since joining the department in 2002, he has risen through the ranks as a firefighter, paramedic, driver/operator, Training Coordinator, Captain, and Acting Assistant Chief. Throughout his career, he has earned a reputation as a respected leader committed to developing firefighters, strengthening emergency response, and serving the community with integrity.

"After an extensive search and a highly competitive selection process, I am confident that Robert Schoening is the right leader to guide our Fire Department into the future," said Mayor Jill Shudak. "Chief Schoening's career reflects a deep commitment to our community, our firefighters, and the profession. Having grown within this department, he understands our culture, our values, and the high standard of service our residents expect. His leadership, experience, and vision made him the clear choice to lead the Council Bluffs Fire Department into its next chapter."

In addition to his operational leadership, Chief Schoening has played a significant role in training and mentoring firefighters throughout his career. He has led recruit academies, company officer development, and continuing education programs while also serving as a Tactical Medic Team Leader supporting regional law enforcement operations. His background also includes military service in the Iowa Air National Guard and United States Army, where he served in senior enlisted leadership roles focused on mentoring, readiness, and organizational development.

Chief Schoening holds a bachelor's degree in Communication Studies from Bellevue University, associate degrees in Fire Science and Biology, and is a licensed paramedic. His commitment to professional development and lifelong learning has prepared him to lead one of Iowa's premier fire departments.

As Fire Chief, Schoening will oversee departmental operations, emergency response, strategic planning, personnel development, and community engagement while continuing the department's tradition of excellence and commitment to exceptional service.

"I want to thank the members of the interview panel, the Civil Service Commission, city staff, and everyone who participated in this process," Mayor Shudak said. "Their professionalism and thoughtful evaluation ensured we selected an outstanding leader for this important position."

Mayor Shudak also expressed her appreciation to the department's leadership team for guiding the organization throughout the transition.

"I also want to recognize Acting Chief James Wood and Acting Chief Rich Rodenwald for their outstanding leadership during this transition. Chief Wood provided steady guidance during the early months of the search, and Acting Chief Rodenwald continued that leadership through its completion. Their professionalism, dedication, and commitment to the department ensured the Council Bluffs Fire Department continued to provide exceptional service to our community. I am sincerely grateful to both of them for stepping forward when our city needed them most."

Chief Schoening's appointment reflects the City's continued investment in providing exceptional public safety services while supporting the men and women of the Council Bluffs Fire Department.

"The Council Bluffs Fire Department has built an outstanding reputation because of the dedicated men and women who serve our community every day," Mayor Shudak added. "I am excited to work alongside Chief Schoening as he builds on that strong foundation, invests in our firefighters and paramedics, and leads the department into its next generation of service."

Chief Schoening's swearing-in ceremony will be announced at a later date

05/20/2026

Happy EMS Week from Lewis Township Fire and Rescue!
This year's EMS Week theme is "Improving Outcomes, Together" and that phrase means something real here at LTFR. Today we want to take a moment to recognize the incredible men and women on our department who wear both a badge and a stethoscope.
Becoming an EMT requires a minimum of 120–150 hours of classroom, lab, and clinical training before ever sitting for a national certification exam. Becoming a Paramedic takes that foundation and multiplies it, typically 1,200 to 1,800 hours of advanced education covering pharmacology, cardiac care, airway management, trauma, and much more. And the commitment doesn't stop at certification. Both EMTs and Paramedics must complete continuing education hours every two years just to maintain their licenses.
At Lewis Township Fire and Rescue, we are proud to have:
10 Nationally Certified Paramedics
16 Emergency Medical Technicians
4 EMTs currently in Paramedic school or actively testing for National Paramedic Certification
That's 26 EMS-certified personnel, 4 of whom are pushing toward the next level. These are your neighbors, your volunteers, the people who show up at the worst moments of someone's life, ready to act.
EMS providers aren't just an add-on to the fire service they are integral to the mission. The ability to deliver basic or advanced life support on scene, often before a transport unit arrives, saves lives in our community every single day.
To every EMT and Paramedic at LTFR- thank you for the hours you've invested, the certifications you've earned, and the commitment you bring to this great community.

05/16/2026

05/16/2026

Hello Mcclelland Community,

We wanted to make you aware that the town tornado siren is currently not operational. It is in the midst of a major upgrade and the electricians working on things are waiting on parts to arrive that have been on order since before severe weather season began.

While we anticipate this work to be completed in the near future, it doesn’t help with this weekends potential severe weather forecast.

Please have multiple ways of being notified of severe weather.

We are also posting a link in the comments to Pottawattamie Counties Alert Iowa program that we highly recommend as an option to receive notifications. If you haven’t signed up for it please consider doing so.

05/09/2026

04/25/2026

A huge shout out to the awesome kids and parents from Girl Scout Troop 242! They donated so many Girl Scout cookies to our station, we appreciate their generosity!

04/19/2026

Rest easy Sir. We extend our deepest condolences to Carter Lake Fire and Rescue, and the family of Carl Wilson, someone who gave so much of himself for such a worthy mission.

04/18/2026

Congratulations to our very own Deputy Chief Evanoff on his recent graduation from the Papillion Fire Department Academy! We are proud to have Eb as a volunteer!

Congratulations to our Academy graduates, Firefighters Meyers and Evanoff! Throughout their training, they have demonstrated hard work and excellence, and we are thrilled to have them on board at .

04/07/2026

URGENT: Fire Officer II Class Registration Needed!
Calling all Iowa Firefighters! We have an upcoming Fire Officer II class scheduled to start on April 25, 2026, at the Lewis Township Fire Dept. in Council Bluffs.
Unfortunately, we haven’t reached the minimum registration numbers required to run this course. If we don’t see a significant increase in enrollment soon, this valuable training opportunity may be canceled.
Fire Officer II training is hard to come by, and we’d hate to miss out on providing this essential education to our dedicated Iowa Fire Service.
Please register today through our new Acadis system and help us spread the word!
➡️ Register Here: https://iafstb.acadisonline.com

03/18/2026

Next week is Severe Weather Awareness Week. This is a great reminder to always be prepared for severe weather, and practice your safety drills at home! Don't forget to sign up for AlertIowa using the QR Code on the flyer to stay up to date on impending weather.

03/16/2026

Please stay indoors and do not travel!

🚨 I-80 WEST CLOSURE UPDATE: 🚨All lanes of I-80 are closed in both directions from mile marker 27 (I-880) near Council Bluffs to the Jordan Creek Parkway exit at mile marker 121 in West Des Moines. Conditions are treacherous. Stay in - law enforcement has responded to several incidents!