Governor Tom Vilsack today signed a bill into law which provides one-hundred-thousand dollars in “death benefits” to Iowa’s VOLUNTEER fire fighters and ambulance crews killed in the line of duty. Iowa has eight-hundred-44 volunteer fire departments, and Vilsack says volunteers should have some sort of benefit assured their families should tragedy strike. Duane Hackman is Mitchellville’s rescue captain — he says the new law provides a level of comfort for his wife and two sons.Valerie Hopper volunteers on Mitchellville’s fire department along with her husband and father-in-law. Hopper says the state needs to dedicate more money to help volunteer fire fighters get up-to-date training. Volunteer fire fighters no longer have to drive to the Iowa State fire school for training. Trainers now drive to cities and towns throughout the state to conduct sessions on the latest equipment and fire fighting techniques.
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