Council Bluffs Association of Professional Firefighters Local 15

10/15/2026

Road Closures for Firefighter Jones’ Memorial Procession

As our community comes together today to honor Firefighter Jones, residents should anticipate road closures and traffic delays along the memorial procession route.

The procession will take place following the 10 a.m. funeral Mass at St Patrick’s Church on Valley View Road. Road closures will primarily impact Broadway and Pierce Street between North Avenue and South 4th Street. Traffic congestion is also expected near St. Patrick Catholic Church along College Road, Valley View Drive, and McPherson Avenue.

Roads are expected to reopen by approximately 1 p.m., although timing may vary.

We appreciate the community's patience and understanding as we honor Firefighter Jones and support his family, friends, and fellow firefighters.

Map Info:
Orange: Vehicle Procession (roads not closed)
Solid Red: Roads Closed
Dotted Red: Roads Closed (walking procession route)

10/12/2026

We invite the community to join us in honoring the life and service of Firefighter / Medic Charles Jones, who passed away October 8.

- - Community Visitation | Wednesday, October 14 - -
Community members are invited to pay their respects at Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home on Wednesday, October 14, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. While the visitation remains open until 6 p.m., we encourage the public to attend between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to allow family and friends personal time from 2 to 6 p.m.

- - Procession and Bell Tower Ceremony | Thursday, October 15 - -
Following a funeral Mass, the Council Bluffs Fire Department will honor Firefighter Jones with a ceremonial procession and final salute.

The walking procession will begin near Broadway United Methodist Church, travel along the 100 Block, turn south onto South 4th Street, and conclude at Fire Headquarters (200 South 4th Street). See attached map. Upon arrival at Fire Headquarters, the department's Honor Guard will conduct a traditional bell tower ceremony and final salute.

Community members wishing to attend the procession are encouraged to line W Broadway from the 100 Block, around South 4th Street to Fire Headquarters by 11:15 a.m. on Thursday, October 15. The procession will begin following the funeral Mass, so the exact start time may vary.

10/12/2026

💚Mayday Alert for FF Chuck Jones’ family💚

Council Bluffs, IA - Chuck Jones was a 19-year veteran of the Council Bluffs Fire Department and a 19-year member of IAFF Local 15. On the morning of October 5, Chuck was serving on Engine 61; during the fire, Chuck began showing signs of distress but remained on duty. Later that morning, while responding to a medical call, his condition worsened and he began exhibiting signs of a stroke. He was transported by his fellow firefighters to the emergency department and later transferred to the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Chuck was surrounded by his parents, wife, two daughters, and fellow firefighters.

Ten years ago, Chuck overcame cancer, and rather than stepping away, he returned to work and remained there for his family, his fellow firefighters, and his community. He was dedicated to his profession, regularly attending training and bringing what he learned back to share with his fellow firefighters. Chuck was a mentor, friend, and dependable presence through cancer, COVID-19, severe Midwestern weather, flooding, and staffing challenges. Let’s show up for his family the way he showed up for his community.

https://www.theyardfoundation.org/mayday/jones





Council Bluffs Fire Department
Council Bluffs Association of Professional Firefighters Local 15
Iowa Professional Fire Fighters
The Des Moines Area Metro FOOLS
IAFF 2nd District

10/09/2026

For those looking to make a donation in support of Chuck Jones’ family, The Yard Foundation is an outstanding organization dedicated to assisting firefighters and their loved ones during times of need. All proceeds will go directly to the family!

💚Mayday Alert for FF Chuck Jones’ family💚

Council Bluffs, IA - Chuck Jones was a 19-year veteran of the Council Bluffs Fire Department and a 19-year member of IAFF Local 15. On the morning of October 5, Chuck was serving on Engine 61; during the fire, Chuck began showing signs of distress but remained on duty. Later that morning, while responding to a medical call, his condition worsened and he began exhibiting signs of a stroke. He was transported by his fellow firefighters to the emergency department and later transferred to the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Chuck was surrounded by his parents, wife, two daughters, and fellow firefighters.

Ten years ago, Chuck overcame cancer, and rather than stepping away, he returned to work and remained there for his family, his fellow firefighters, and his community. He was dedicated to his profession, regularly attending training and bringing what he learned back to share with his fellow firefighters. Chuck was a mentor, friend, and dependable presence through cancer, COVID-19, severe Midwestern weather, flooding, and staffing challenges. Let’s show up for his family the way he showed up for his community.

https://www.theyardfoundation.org/mayday/jones





Council Bluffs Fire Department
Council Bluffs Association of Professional Firefighters Local 15
Iowa Professional Fire Fighters
The Des Moines Area Metro FOOLS
IAFF 2nd District

10/08/2026

09/16/2026

Crews were back at it again; this time, B shift Medic 3 and Truck 32 had the 5th Cardiac Save of the year, on September 3rd.

At 15:30, a vehicle drove off the end of South Expressway, struck a building, and the driver was found in cardiac arrest. The patient was defibrillated and moved to the ambulance, where crews provided airway support, IV fluids, and medications. The patient was then transported to a local hospital and was admitted to the ICU. Three days later, the patient was discharged home.

Great job to the following crew members!

FF T. Moore
FF/P D. Clark
FF/P C. Wheeler
Eng D. Rockwell
Capt R. Bradshaw
Capt/P D. Andersen

09/09/2026

Good morning, Omaha!! So, with the news out of Lincoln about the state auditor questioning Lincoln Fire’s overtime, we’ve seen a lot of misinformation out there about overtime, how it’s offered, etc. We can’t speak specifically about our brothers and sisters in Lincoln, but we can speak generally about overtime here in Omaha and generally in the fire service!

So, just to put it out there right away, heavy overtime is an indication of being understaffed. Fire fighters don’t get the option to take overtime whenever they want unless the department is understaffed and offered overtime is an omnipresent option that is available daily.

A few quick-fire misinformation corrections we’ve also seen regarding OT:
• “They get overtime on anything over 40 hours.” – Incorrect. We work, on average, 56 hours per week, and we only get OT for hours above those 56…not 40 like the private sector.
• “They’re working a ton of overtime to spike their pension.” – Incorrect. Overtime does not count towards pension, so you can’t “spike” the last few years prior to retirement.
• “They are abusing the system and just getting as much money as possible.” – Incorrect. We have members that work a lot of overtime, but it’s not taken as a result of a loophole. The only reason it’s offered is because we don’t have the personnel to staff the rigs safely (as mandated by our contract). In fact, the ones that do work a lot of overtime typically are stretched very thin. They don’t work a 24-hour overtime shift, relax all shift, and come home…our rigs are very busy, and most typically spend their day off trying to catch up on the sleep deficit from their shift.

Overtime is used heavily when a department is not staffed appropriately, and they’re required to call back personnel off-duty and pay them more to cover the holes in the daily staffing. Our fire fighters, just like the men and women in Lincoln, have the option to work these extra shifts (and get paid extra) to ensure their city has enough people to respond to emergencies quickly and efficiently.

Stay safe, Omaha!

09/04/2026

Whew, what a month 🚒💨

August was busy for CBFD! A huge thank you to our dedicated crews and dispatchers for their tireless work, and to our amazing community for your continued support.

Stay safe out there, everyone!