Iota Volunteer Fire Department reports 171 calls in 2025, highlights training and new pumper delivery
February 10, 2026 | Acadia Parish, Louisiana
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Chief David Dogue of the Iota Volunteer Fire Department told the Acadia Parish Police Jury on Feb. 10 that the department responded to 171 calls in 2025, of which 166 were classified as emergencies. "For 2025, we responded to a grand total of a 171 calls for assistance," Dogue said, adding that 93 of those were emergency medical responses and 13 were structure fires.
Dogue reported an average response time of "8 minutes and 28 seconds" from paging to being within district, and contrasted that with what he described as a national standard of 14 minutes. "So we're well under where we wanna be," he said, and called the performance a point of pride for an all-volunteer department.
On staffing and training, Dogue said the department has 17 emergency medical responders certified through the department, five EMTs and two paramedics on the roster. He described multiple certification courses scheduled for 2026: "We currently have, I believe, 6 certification classes scheduled. We just completed 1, so we have 5 more in the process." He said the department logged 3,716 hours of training and that 11 members achieved certifications last year.
Dogue also noted recent accreditation through the Louisiana Bureau of EMS that allows Iota to run EMR and some EMT recertification training in-house and cited participation in the Louisiana Fire Chiefs Association chief executive program.
He described community outreach and prevention efforts, saying the department hosted 10 public events that reached over 1,500 people and staffed 18 community standbys totaling more than 628 volunteer standby hours. Dogue said the department has a near-complete new pumper and plans a public dedication ceremony next month.
Asked about grant-seeking and capital needs, Dogue said the department is pursuing grants to replace equipment and buy a training prop to enhance on-site training. The jury offered help in identifying capital grant resources.
The presentation concluded with jurors thanking the chief for the report and acknowledging the department's volunteer service.
Dogue reported an average response time of "8 minutes and 28 seconds" from paging to being within district, and contrasted that with what he described as a national standard of 14 minutes. "So we're well under where we wanna be," he said, and called the performance a point of pride for an all-volunteer department.
On staffing and training, Dogue said the department has 17 emergency medical responders certified through the department, five EMTs and two paramedics on the roster. He described multiple certification courses scheduled for 2026: "We currently have, I believe, 6 certification classes scheduled. We just completed 1, so we have 5 more in the process." He said the department logged 3,716 hours of training and that 11 members achieved certifications last year.
Dogue also noted recent accreditation through the Louisiana Bureau of EMS that allows Iota to run EMR and some EMT recertification training in-house and cited participation in the Louisiana Fire Chiefs Association chief executive program.
He described community outreach and prevention efforts, saying the department hosted 10 public events that reached over 1,500 people and staffed 18 community standbys totaling more than 628 volunteer standby hours. Dogue said the department has a near-complete new pumper and plans a public dedication ceremony next month.
Asked about grant-seeking and capital needs, Dogue said the department is pursuing grants to replace equipment and buy a training prop to enhance on-site training. The jury offered help in identifying capital grant resources.
The presentation concluded with jurors thanking the chief for the report and acknowledging the department's volunteer service.
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