Greenfield, IA, Fire Chief Discusses Future after '24 Tornado

May 19, 2025
Firefighters have become closer since their firehouse was wiped out by an EF-4 tornado on May 21, 2024, Greenfield Fire Chief Curtis Vry said.

Greenfield Fire Department may not have a firehouse, but firefighters are still responding to  calls.

The space where their station was located is now a patch of grass. But, plans are underway for a new one. 

“(The station) had major, major, damage to it. It was structurally unsound," Greenfield Fire Chief Curtis Vry told weareiowa.

The rigs are now in a farm building just outside town.

“It makes response times just a few seconds slower, but at this point that’s what we’ve got to work with."

“Never in a million years do you think it’s going to hit your town. So I mean it was very hard to prepare for. Honestly, I believe one of the trucks held up the steel structure side of the building."

Members have grown closer since the incident, and are looking forward to building a new firehouse. 

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.