Career (Paid) EMS Provider

MASON CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT

Mason City, IA · Cerro Gordo County

MASON CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT is a Career (Paid) department serving Mason City, IA (Cerro Gordo County), with 1 station and 45 total personnel. The department also provides EMS services. Full equipment, coverage, and staffing data from HIFLD are below.

45
Total personnel
1
Stations
Fire trucks
Yes
EMS service
+125%
above IA avg personnel
(20/dept)
93th
percentile by size
of 590 IA depts
45
personnel per station
staffing density
$910K
2 FEMA grants
AFG / SAFER

Department Profile

Type
CAREER
Location
Mason City, IA
FDID
17003

FEMA Grant History

$910K
Total Funding
2
Awards
Year Award Amount
2018 EMW-2018-FH-00366 $361,606.35
2011 EMW2011FO06377 $548,145

Source: USAspending.gov (CFDA 97.044 AFG / 97.083 SAFER) USAspending.gov (CFDA 97.044 AFG / 97.083 SAFER)

Staffing vs the Iowa average

How MASON CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT's personnel count compares to the typical department in Iowa. It is larger than 93% of the 590 reporting departments statewide.

▲ 125% above the state average
Stations
1
State fire deaths/yr
39
IA departments
810

What This Data Tells You About MASON CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT

MASON CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT operates as a Career (Paid) department in Mason City, within Cerro Gordo County, and the HIFLD and USFA records give a precise structural picture of its response capacity. The department reports 45 total personnel, 1 station, no truck inventory reported. EMS capability is listed as active, which directly affects how medical calls in the service area are routed and how quickly an advanced life support unit can reach a patient. Department type matters because career, volunteer, and combination organizations carry very different response-time profiles and funding sources.

Benchmarking against the state gives this profile context. Iowa has 810 registered fire departments and 16,337 total personnel, averaging roughly 20 staff per department. MASON CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT runs 125% above that state average, signalling a larger-than-typical crew likely tied to denser population or higher call volume. The state records about 22,700 fires, 39 fire deaths, and 70% volunteer coverage each year, which shapes training, funding priorities, and mutual-aid patterns felt at every department in the state.

Federal investment further defines this department's trajectory: MASON CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT has received 2 FEMA grants totaling $909,751.35 through the AFG and SAFER programs, money typically spent on PPE, SCBA, training, and hiring or retaining career staff. Residents, insurers, and mutual-aid partners use these data points to judge whether coverage is adequate for the built environment, whether ISO ratings are defensible, and where future capital investment should flow. All figures on this page come from the Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data (HIFLD) public dataset, USFA published statistics, and USAspending.gov, and are presented without editing so the underlying federal record remains transparent and verifiable.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many firefighters does MASON CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT have?

MASON CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT has 45 total personnel according to HIFLD data. This is 125% above the Iowa average of 20 per department.

Does MASON CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT provide EMS services?

Yes, MASON CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT provides Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in addition to fire response.

How many fire stations does MASON CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT operate?

MASON CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT operates 1 fire station.

What type of fire department is MASON CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT?

MASON CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT is a Career (Paid) department serving Cerro Gordo County, IA. Career departments employ full-time paid firefighters.

Has MASON CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT received federal grants?

Yes, MASON CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT has received 2 FEMA grants totaling $909,751.35 through the AFG and SAFER programs. The most recent grant was in fiscal year 2018.

How many fire departments are in Iowa?

Iowa has 810 fire departments with 16,337 total personnel. 70% are volunteer departments.

Data from HIFLD Open Data (FEMA/DHS). Not all departments report equally.

Nearby Departments

CLEAR LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT
Clear Lake · volunteer
MESERVEY FIRE AND RESCUE
Meservey · other
PLYMOUTH FIRE DEPARTMENT
Plymouth · other
ROCKWELL FIRE DEPARTMENT
Rockwell · other
SWALEDALE FIRE DEPARTMENT
Swaledale · volunteer
VENTURA PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION
Ventura · volunteer
All IA departments →

Related

Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFireData Editorial

Federal data sources

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from FEMA/DHS HIFLD Open Data. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.