Division of Fire Prevention

The Division of Fire Prevention within the Altoona Fire Department works cooperatively with the Altoona Building and Police Departments and elected officials in an effort to promote and enhance fire and life safety for the citizens, visitors, and businesses of Altoona.

Responsibilities
The Division of Fire Prevention has the authority to perform detailed fire plan reviews to ensure proper installation and function of fire alarm and fire suppression systems, inspect commercial buildings/occupancies and multi-family dwellings for fire and life safety violations, perform fire investigations to determine the origin and cause of fires and explosions, and to deliver inspiring fire prevention and safety programs to the citizens and businesses within the City’s jurisdiction.

Altoona Fire & Life Safety Codes
The Division of Fire Prevention is responsible for enforcing the City of Altoona’s Fire Code (Chapter 161), which adopts the 2018 edition of the International Fire Code (IFC), with some local amendments. The City's Fire Code defines the regulations consistent with nationally recognized best practices for the safeguarding of life and property from the hazards of fire, explosions, hazardous materials and other dangers.

Deputy Chief - Fire Marshal
The Division of Fire Prevention is under the direction of Deputy Chief-Fire Marshal John Kraemer, a 21-year veteran of the fire, EMS and forensic services.  Deputy Chief Kraemer joined the Altoona Fire Department in July of 2022, and has previously served in many leadership roles within the public safety community, including Training Officer, Lead Fire Investigator, Public Information Officer, Lieutenant, and Chief of the State of Iowa Fire Academy.  He holds multiple nationally-recognized fire and EMS certifications to include Firefighter I and II, Driver/Operator-Pumper, Driver/Operator-Aerial, Fire and Emergency Services Instructor I and II, Fire Officer I and II, Fire Inspector I, Fire Investigator and is a nationally and state registered Paramedic.  Deputy Chief Kraemer serves as an adjunct Assistant Professor of EMS at Mercy College of Health Sciences and is an Advisory Board Member for the Des Moines Area Community College Fire Science Program.

Deputy Chief Kraemer earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Minnesota in 1996 and his Masters in Health Sciences Degree from Quinnipiac University (in association with Yale University) in 1998.  He is also a 2018 graduate of Drake University’s Certified Public Manager Program.