Council Bluffs Association of Professional Firefighters Local 15

06/24/2026

Ladders, Search, more Ladders with our Recruits this week!

06/23/2026

help the Red Cross!

Council Bluffs Police Department and the Council Bluffs Fire Department have a little competition going on at Station 5 on July 14th, and we'd love your support!

Register at the link provided, then come down to Station 5 on the 14th, times are from 9am to 2pm.

Have questions, sound off in the comments!

See you there!

06/23/2026

An absolute honor to have our members participate in the Presentation of Colors at the Game 3 of the CWS tonight!

06/17/2026

Fire Attack work with the Recruits today...

06/16/2026

Station 2 crews (Engine 21, Truck 22, Medic 2) of the B Shift working on their Creek Rescue skills this morning.

Crews started at the Station reviewing set up, then ran an evolution at Indian Creek.

06/14/2026

Happy Flag Day from the Companies at Station 2...

Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the flag of these United States that took place on June 14th, 1777.

First proposed as a holiday in 1861 as way to rally for support of the Union side of the Civil War, and officially recognized with a presidential proclamation in 1916; Flag Day finally became an official holiday in Aigust of 1949.

From the start, and still today, Old Glory is meant to be a symbol of the boldness, bravery, and spirit of the American People and all that we stand for.

If you've got Old Glory at home today, fly it! If you see one while you are out and about, give 'er a head nod for all that it stands for!

05/25/2026

Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day is the day we commemorate those who sacrificed everything as service members of these United States. To date, over 1.3 million Americans since 1775 have given their lives during active military service, some during peacetime activities, the others while actively engaged in war efforts.

PFC Ned Moore, USMC, is one of the many that made the ultimate sacrifice in service of this nation. PFC Moore, a Pipeman with the Council Bluffs Fire Department, was on official leave from the department when he was killed by enemy gun fire at the Battle of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands; he was 1 of 1,000 Marines killed in the Battle in November of 1943.

Today we pause to remember PFC Moore, and all those that sacrificed it all for the Red, White, and Blue.

05/24/2026

A big CONGRATS to Local 15 member Engineer Jeremy Dankiw on receiving the Rotary Club of Council Bluffs: Noon Club Firefighter of the Year.

Engineer Dankiw invested countless hours towards the research, design and development of numerous displays at CBFD Headquarters in an effort to not only recognize and preserve the history of the Department, but also to honor Department members who have served in the military.

Thanks for sharing one of your passions with the Department Dank!

Each year the Noon Rotary Club celebrates those who make a difference in our department. This year Engineer J. Dankiw received the Firefighter of the Year award from Noon Rotary.

Eng. Dankiw was nominated for this award because of the numerous beatification and historical preservation projects he has organized and completed over several years. He has worked with retired CBFD members, local historical groups, and the Council Bluffs Library to preserve photos and significant events. His latest project memorialized past and present CBFD employees who have or are currently serving in the military.

We are thankful to have someone like Eng. Dankiw on our crew! Join us in congratulating him!

05/01/2026

Congratulations to C shift Truck 22 and Medic 2 for having the 2nd cardiac arrest save of 2026!

On March 31st at 01:07am, they responded to a 71-year-old patient in respiratory distress at home.

They found the patient with a decreased level of consciousness and in cardiac arrest with inadequate breathing.
Crews started CPR and found the patient in a shockable heart rhythm; they were able to get the patient back into an organized rhythm.

A pulse was obtained, and an airway was established. The patient was then transported to Jennie Edmundson.
After 34 days in the hospital, the patient was discharged home.

Congratulations to the following crew members!

Firefighter Paramedic Neal Hoevet
Captain Paramedic Micah Laufenberg
Engineer James Stanley
Firefighter Paramedic Boughston Edwards
Firefighter Logan Butler

04/04/2026

The Council Bluffs Association of Professional Firefighters would like to congratulate Fire Chief Justin James on his retirement from CBFD.

Chief James served the citizens of Council Bluffs in a wide variety of roles across multiple Divisions as a Firefighter, Engineer, Captain, Fire Investigator, Fire Marshal, HAZMAT Coordinator, Assistant Chief, and ultimately, Fire Chief.

Under his leadership the department attained an ISO 1 rating, saw the implementation of Swift Water Rescue, Wildland Fire, and Drone Operator programs. Programs already in place when he took over as Fire Chief saw significant improvements, including Rope Rescue, Confined Space, Ice and Water Rescue, and Tactical EMS. The Department also saw minimum manning increased with a fourth, fully staffed Medic Unit placed in service on the Southside of town at Station #5.

Chief James served as a our Union President from 2003 - 2009, and was a dues paying member throughout his entire time with CBFD. Instrumental in many things beyond our Department, he played a large part in the development of the MPFRSI Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP), legislation to allow Tactical Medics to obtain Professional Permits to Carry, and set up CBFD as the first Fire Department in Iowa to have a Post Employment Health Plan.

Our members wish him a long and happy retirement, and are grateful for his dedication to the citizens of Council Bluffs, Firefighters across the State of Iowa, and to this Local.