Published: July 15, 2008 11:50 am            

Congratulations to this firefighter

Firefighters are a special lot. They give of themselves, 100 percent, working to make sure that area residents are safe from fire, that they know what to do in case one breaks out, and the specifics of saving life and property should one occur.

In Camanche, one of its very own has been honored by the governor for the role he plays in fire prevention: Camanche Assistant Fire Chief Bob Alm has received the 2008 Governor’s Award for Fire Prevention Officer of the Year.

The award goes to a fire service representative who has made, through involvement in fire prevention, a significant contribution to the prevention of fire in the state of Iowa. The nominee, at the time of the act or acts resulting in the nomination, must have been a member in good standing of an organized fire department in the state of Iowa. He or she must, through either the results of a single program or the culmination of numerous fire prevention programs, have provided an exceptionally effective contribution in the area of fire prevention.

Alm was nominated for the award by the Camanche Fire Department Executive Board in honor of serving the department for more than 30 years and his dedication to fire prevention. In the nomination letter, the board lists some of Alm's many contributions to the fire department and the community including providing fire safety/prevention programs at the local preschools, serving as coordinator of the Camanche Fire Department Juvenile Fire Setters Prevention Program and as a key instructor of the department’s Fire Safety Program.

Alm has been with the department for 30 years since beginning his tenure on the fire department as a volunteer in January 1977. He served as a volunteer until 1987, when he became firefighter/building inspector for the city of Camanche. He has served in nearly every capacity available at the department including chief, assistant chief, captain, lieutenant, secretary-treasurer and works and projects. Alm has been involved with the Smokey’s Helper’s Program at Camanche Elementary School since 1981 and has been the facilitator since 1987.

Each month throughout the school year, Alm and Fire Chief Dave Schutte meet with third-grade students at Camanche Elementary School. The lessons include EDITH, or Exit Drills In The Home, smoke detectors, stop, drop and roll, phoning in an alarm and other fire prevention topics. The goals of this program are accomplished using videos, lectures and class participation/interaction and guest speakers.

In 1987, Bill Rowe became the chief and Alm was hired as the career firefighter. Some time after this, he became the facilitator of the Smokey’s Helper program. He is also the co-coordinator of the Juvenile Fire Setters and a certified arson investigator.

Alm has served in numerous capacities including treasurer, lieutenant, captain, and has been assistant chief for the past five years. He was appointed to the position of acting fire chief, after the death of Fire Chief Aubrey Wilson, who died of cancer in February 2006. Alm is a State Certified EMT-B, Firefighter I and II, Fire Department Company Officer, Fire Service Instructor I and Arson Investigator. He is an Emergency Rescue Technician, Haz-Mat Operations Trained and certified as a Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention Specialist.

Alm is a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators Iowa Chapter, the Clinton County Fire Chiefs Association (where he serves as secretary/treasurer) and the Iowa Fireman’s Association. Alm also has been certified as a Dosimeter Control Officer by Exelon Nuclear. The dosimetery equipment is used to monitor personnel and equipment in case of a release from the Exelon plant.

As you can see, Alm’s list of accomplishments is a long one and we can see why this honor was bestowed upon him.

Congratulations, Mr. Alm. You deserve the recognition.

        

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