Salix Firefighters Battle Deadly House Fire and Wildfire in 24 Hours

Volunteer crews respond to two major incidents with little time to recover in between

Apr. 7, 2026 at 1:51am

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A vast, majestic landscape painting in muted tones of orange, red, and gray, depicting a raging wildfire consuming a vast field under a dramatic, turbulent sky. The scene uses deep atmospheric perspective and dramatic backlighting to convey the overwhelming, sublime scale of the natural disaster, with any physical structures or vehicles dwarfed by the overwhelming power of the flames.As volunteer firefighters battle back-to-back blazes, the raw power of nature's fury is laid bare in a landscape consumed by an unstoppable wildfire.Salix Today

Salix Fire & Rescue volunteers in Iowa faced a devastating 24-hour period on March 29, responding to a fatal house fire in the early morning hours and then being called to a large wildfire in a nearby town just hours later. The back-to-back incidents left the small crew physically and emotionally drained, but they persevered to serve their community.

Why it matters

The story highlights the immense challenges and pressures faced by volunteer fire departments, especially in rural areas, when responding to multiple major emergencies in quick succession. It underscores the selfless dedication of these first responders and the vital role they play in protecting their communities, even when resources are limited.

The details

At around 1 a.m. on March 29, Salix Fire & Rescue crews battled a house fire that tragically claimed the life of a community member. After spending six hours on that call, the volunteers were paged out again just eight hours later to assist with a large field fire in the nearby town of Bronson. Salix was one of 40 fire and EMS departments that responded to the wildfire, which they fought for an additional seven hours. In total, the Salix crew spent 13 hours battling intense blazes with less than eight hours in between to recover physically and emotionally.

  • At around 1 a.m. on March 29, Salix Fire & Rescue responded to a fatal house fire.
  • Within eight hours of the house fire call, Salix Fire & Rescue was dispatched to a large field fire in Bronson.
  • Salix crews spent a total of 13 hours fighting the two fires with less than 8 hours in between.

The players

Derek Stanfield

Fire Chief of Salix Fire & Rescue.

Taylor Soule

Assistant Fire Chief of Salix Fire & Rescue.

Dallas Schmitt

Volunteer firefighter with Salix Fire & Rescue.

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What they’re saying

“The stuff they see with the structure fires weighs heavily on the guys. And then to be paged back out later that day you don't really have time to process what just went on.”

— Derek Stanfield, Fire Chief

“It's a lot of chaos. There's departments scattered everywhere going to different houses. Trying to get people evacuated. And trying to fight the fire at the same time. And with something moving as fast as that did, I mean it's a large scale incident that nobody knows what it's going to do.”

— Taylor Soule, Assistant Fire Chief

“It was a lot. I'll say that. It was my first time being put on the spot. On that short period of time. But it's very rewarding knowing we were quick to act and were very efficient in our efforts.”

— Dallas Schmitt, Volunteer Firefighter

What’s next

The Salix Fire Department is raising money to purchase a used ladder truck to improve their firefighting capabilities. They will be hosting a barbecue fundraiser on Saturday, April 11 to support this effort.

The takeaway

This story underscores the immense dedication and resilience of volunteer firefighters, who often face intense physical and emotional challenges while serving their communities. Despite the back-to-back emergencies and limited resources, the Salix crew demonstrated their commitment to protecting lives and property, highlighting the vital role these first responders play, especially in rural areas.