City of Des Moines

On December 17, 1984, Matt Porter and Orlando Vivone walked through the doors of DMFD for their first day on the job. Yesterday afternoon, a special call went out over our dispatch to congratulate District Fire Chief Matt Porter and Fire Inspector Vivone for reaching 40 years of service to the residents of Des Moines. These two have been instrumental to the department for decades and have helped countless residents and mentored hundreds of firefighters through their years here. Please join us in congratulating Matt and Orlando for four decades of service!

It was all smiles last week at Heroes and Helpers. Our Des Moines Police Department officers and Des Moines Fire Department firefighters paired up with kids and helped them check off their Christmas shopping lists at the Merle Hay Mall Target. Thank you to all our sponsors who helped make this event a reality. We're not sure who had more fun - the kids or our officers who got to be a part of the holiday magic!

🏘️ Help Shape Des Moines’ Future Housing! 🏘️ The City of Des Moines is creating its Citywide Housing Strategy, a roadmap to ensure our balanced distribution of housing aligns with our PlanDSM Comprehensive Plan. This effort focuses on key issues like housing affordability, market conditions, and the City’s competitive position in the region. We need your input! 💬 Your voice will guide this critical work and help prioritize housing issues that matter most to our community. Take the survey today at dsm.city/housingsurvey and make a difference in the future of housing in Des Moines.

When responding to a car accident, our firefighters have to be prepared to make safe decisions in an instant if people are trapped in their vehicle. Last week, we held trainings at an auto salvage yard to fine tune our firefighters' extrication skills. These firefighters spent hours practicing complex situations and mastering the basics. Another rewarding day sharpening our skills to serve the residents of Des Moines.

A night of holiday magic! There were smiles around every corner of the Merle Hay Target during the Holidays and Heroes event as the Des Moines Fire Department partnered with Des Moines Police to complete holiday shopping missions for 40 Des Moines children. Nothing beats seeing the generosity and spirit of these kids picking out gifts for their family! We're thankful to all of our sponsors for making this evening a true success!

Applications for the ADAPT DSM Residents Climate Committee are now open. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gt5ZxR-u ADAPT DSM is not just climate action for everyone; it's also climate action by everyone. We are seeking community members who are committed to working with the Sustainability Office to implement the City's first climate action and adaptation plan. This committee will represent a diverse set of voices including vulnerable and frontline community members. The Committee will also include members from a variety of backgrounds, such as students, businesses, education, and community and/or faith-based organizations. Committee Members will support education and outreach, foster partnerships, and advise the Sustainability Office on implementation of ADAPT DSM. Initial terms will be established on an alternating 1-3 year scale at time of appointment.

4 inches thick to safely walk on the ice. As ice forms over bodies of water in Des Moines, it's important that you know how thick the ice is and have a plan for safety before heading on to the ice. Our Des Moines Fire Deparmnet WET team was out at MacRae Park's pond last week to practice our ice rescues, check out the other advice they have for winter ice safety!

Work is underway to develop an operating budget and capital improvement program budget for the City of Des Moines for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). Join City Manager Scott Sanders, City Finance Staff, and Des Moines City Council Members for a series of public information sessions regarding the City's budget process and how you can get involved. Your early feedback helps guide and shape the proposed budget before it is considered by City Council at public hearings in February and March. Visit DSM.city/Budget for more information and online budget resources.

🚨 Important Notice: Fake Parking Letters 🚨 The City of Des Moines is aware of fraudulent letters circulating in some neighborhoods with false claims about winter parking restrictions, enforcement methods, and unrealistic fines. These letters are NOT from the City. ✅ Facts to Remember: There is NO seasonal parking ban in Des Moines. Snow-related parking restrictions are enforced ONLY during snow removal operations. 📲 For accurate information: Visit DMSnow.org. Sign up for alerts and updates. Verify any suspicious communications by visiting DSM.city. Help us stop the spread of misinformation—stay informed and share this message.

Don't let your holidays go up in smoke! If you have a live Christmas tree this year, pay attention: Water. Your. Tree. Our team wanted to show you the risk a dry tree can pose to your home - this video shows your family may have only a matter of seconds to escape once it catches. Over the next few weeks, water your tree regularly and take it outside your home once the needles begin to dry out. Celebrate safely, Des Moines!