By Adam Belz
The Gazette

Editor's note: Check out FireRescue1 columnist Fred Lafemina's tips on cold weather firefighting. Cold Climate Challenges

MAQUOKETA, Iowa — Smoke is still rising from the ruins at the scene of a fire that destroyed a half block of historic buildings on Main Street in Maquoketa. The blaze started a little after 2 a.m. Saturday. The 24 fire departments called in to assist were not released until 5 a.m. Sunday morning.

There are plenty of onlookers, many taking pictures or video of the fire's devastation.

The state fire marshal was here this morning but has already left the scene. Electrical workers are knocking out downed power lines and firefighters are recovering at home and at the fire station.

About 200 firefighters and 30 tankers were used to control the fire, according to Al Muhlhausen, assistant chief to the all-volunteer 31-member strong Maquoketa department,

They had to knock down parts of the buildings with a backhoe to stop the fire, Muhlhausen said, and expect to employ the backhoe again today to extinguish hot spots. The backhoe also proved advantageous, Muhlhausen said, because the roofs of the buildings collapsed, the fire "was layered and there was no way to get in there," Muhlhausen said.

The extreme cold made the fire difficult to fight, Muhlhausen said, with temperatures dipping to minus 9 last night and hovering around zero today. "Our gear gets wet and the ice just builds on it and the weight becomes tremendous," Muhlhausen said.

Even though firefighters fought in 15-minute shifts, several inches of ice would gather on their boots and the ground became more slippery as the ice built. Offspray from the hoses froze before it hit the ground. "It just like getting hit by many icicles," Muhlhausen said.

The three-person fire crews were relieved every 15 minutes so they could seek warmth and shelter at the Main Street Cafe and nearby financial offices across the street.

Copyright 2008 The Gazette