1. Operations & Training

    Pocahontas, IA, Fire Chief Loses House to Blaze

    March 26, 2025
    Firefighters knew when they got the call they were responding to their chief's house in Pocahontas.

    The Pocahontas fire chief Jon Bellows missed a house fire -- one that hit his house.

    Fire Chief Jon Bellowswas, his wife and four children when their house caught fire last week.

    Pocahontas firefighters said they knew when they got the call, it was the chief's house. Assistant Chief Zac Vader told KCCI crews did what they could. 

    The fire appears to have started in the basement. 

    Neighbors and local fire departments are rallying to help the family with donations as they lost everything. 

    About the Author

    Susan Nicol | News Editor

    Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues. 

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