Muscatine firefighters Pat Gingerich and Daniel Novak are back home after bird flu duty.
They completed two weeks of tough assignments with the Iowa Hazmat Task Force in Northwest Iowa.
Crews from Davenport and Burlington are also participating.
"It's really all about the people," Novak said. "We're working together as a team to accomplish a huge goal to get this contained."
Iowa's bird flu epidemic is a major disaster, resulting in catastrophic bird and economic losses.
It's likely the worst animal disease outbreak in North America.
"We worked pretty much 12-hour days," said Lt. Gingerich. "It almost felt like being in the movie 'Groundhog Day,' where it was the same thing every day."
It's unpleasant, difficult work in trying conditions.
But from the top down, that teamwork and training are producing results.
"We could come in and change that," Novak said. "Make that better and help out, so that it's doing better."
Warmer weather and longer days are helping this epidemic to wind down.
But the USDA's nonstop effort continues should bird flu return this fall.
Working with the USDA and Iowa producers, these firefighters are developing a close connection with the disaster.
"I think we were appreciated everywhere we went," Lt. Gingerich said. "I think people really liked our presence."
Back in Muscatine, those boots-on-the-ground lessons offer real-life applications when other disasters strike.
"We can just hopefully come and help take care of it," Novak said. "So they can get back up and running again."
Ready responses during trying times in Iowa.
"It was a good showing that we were able to respond when needed," Lt. Gingerich concluded.