Storm Lake Police logged 2,405 January calls; Fire Department responded to 20

Storm Lake public safety agencies opened 2026 with heavy activity and a clear emphasis on readiness. The Storm Lake Police Department recorded 2,405 service calls in January, a total the department described as "up slightly" from the same month in 2025. The department posted on Instagram, "Our January 2026 Monthly Police Activity Report is now available."

The police figure underscores persistent demand for emergency response across the county. An annual report summary referenced in local reporting notes community demographics, lifesaving awards, incident and arrest breakdowns, and detective highlights, and it recalls an armed standoff early in 2025 and an increase in juvenile arrests that prompted expanded prevention and intervention partnerships. A passage attributed to Chief Cole reflected that work: "The work they do is not easy, but it is meaningful, and it is strengthened every day by the support of the community we serve… We remain committed to serving Storm Lake with professionalism, compassion and dedication in the year ahead."

The Storm Lake Fire Department released an activity summary characterizing January as a month "defined more by preparation and prevention than by smoke and flames." The department responded to 20 calls in January: 16 were fire alarms or miscellaneous calls, three were motor vehicle accidents, and one was an actual fire. Firefighters logged 224 hours of training during the month and conducted 30 Public Relations and Prevention events, indicating a heavy investment in community outreach and skills maintenance.

Those prevention efforts tie to an annual campaign the department concluded this season, Keep the Wreath Red, which counted three structure fires between Dec. 1 and Jan. 1, each marked on the wreath by a white bulb. Local reporting also noted that January and February remain peak months for home fires, driven in part by increased use of space heaters and other supplemental heating. For questions about the campaign or winter fire safety, contact SLFD Captain Blake Severson at 712-732-8010 or severson@stormlake.org.

Personnel changes in 2025, including the arrival of Chief Terence Sinner and several new recruits, were cited as factors shaping the department’s focus on training and prevention. The fire department’s code enforcement and outreach contributed to the city achieving a 100 percent compliance rate on fire code violations in the previous year.

Residents should take practical precautions as the cold months continue: check heating appliances, maintain clear exits, and report suspicious mail or mailbox thefts, a separate county alert warned, after incidents of altered checks being fraudulently deposited. Storm Lake leaders say fuller monthly and annual reports are available through department channels for anyone seeking detailed incident breakdowns and comparisons to past years.