{
  "id": "2024-02-01-university-of-iowa-fire-at-iowa-raptor-project-destroys-four-mews",
  "slug": "university-of-iowa-fire-at-iowa-raptor-project-destroys-four-mews-2024-02-01",
  "institution": {
    "name": "University of Iowa",
    "shortName": "Iowa",
    "state": "IA",
    "type": "public-r1",
    "alertSystemName": "Hawk Alert / Campus Safety",
    "enrollment": 30000
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2024-02-01",
    "type": "fire",
    "cleryCategory": "emergency-notification",
    "resolution": "resolved",
    "headline": "Fire at Iowa Raptor Project destroys four mews",
    "headlinePublic": "Fire at Iowa Raptor Project destroys four mews",
    "summary": "University of Iowa Campus Safety [published a notice](https://safety.uiowa.edu/news/2024/02/solon-north-liberty-fire-department-respond-fire-iowa-raptor-project). Full text recovered from safety.uiowa.edu.",
    "outcome": "See official Campus Safety news page for further updates if any."
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestampApprox": "Campus Safety notice dated 2024-02-01",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "First responders were dispatched to the location by the Johnson County Emergency Communications Center following a report of a large fire in the area at around 4:24 a.m.\n\nWhen first responders arrived on scene, they came upon a fire in four mews (a type of enclosure) at the Iowa Raptor Project property, which is located at 3673 Raptor Ridge Rd NE, in Solon.\n\nThe four enclosures were completely lost, as well as the four raptors in them, which included two red-tailed hawks, one Harris’s hawk, and one gyrfalcon. The remaining birds are being closely observed for any signs of distress.\n\nThe cause of the fire remains under investigation and a damage estimate is not yet available.\n\nThe Iowa Raptor Project and the Macbride Nature Recreation Area will be closed until further notice.\n\nThe University of Iowa Police Department was assisted by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Johnson County Emergency Communications Center, Solon Fire Department, North Liberty Fire Department, and the State Fire Marshal.\n\nThe mission of the Iowa Raptor Project is to connect students and the community to the conservation of birds of prey and their natural habitats through research and education opportunities. IRP is a jointly sponsored program of the University of Iowa College of Education and Kirkwood Community College. They achieve their goal to preserve raptor populations and habitats through educational experiences that awaken awareness, nurture appreciation, and inspire action, as well as through field research on raptor nesting habitats, migration routes, and wintering grounds.\n\nThe Iowa Raptor Project typically displays 17 unreleasable birds of prey historically found in Iowa.\n\nThe University of Iowa will continue to provide the highest quality, humane care for all animals engaged in programs at the University of Iowa. The raptors are cared for by licensed Master Falconers, who are committed to their well-being, and are under the oversight of the United States Department of Agriculture, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the University of Iowa.\n\nAdmin Login",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://safety.uiowa.edu/news/2024/02/solon-north-liberty-fire-department-respond-fire-iowa-raptor-project",
      "sourceDescription": "University of Iowa Campus Safety news notice",
      "annotations": [
        "Verbatim from official safety.uiowa.edu Campus Safety news page."
      ],
      "characterCount": 2172,
      "confidence": "high"
    },
    {
      "sequence": 2,
      "type": "update",
      "timestampApprox": "Campus Safety update dated 2024-05",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "The cause of the Feb. 16 fire at the Iowa Raptor Project remains undetermined following a joint investigation by the State Fire Marshal and the University of Iowa Police Department.\n\nBecause the fire had completely consumed the four impacted mews (a type of enclosure) when the first fire department arrived on scene, investigators could not determine the origin of the fire or any potential cause.\n\nThe case is now considered closed pending any new developments and the Iowa Raptor Project has re-opened to the public.\n\nAnyone with information about this incident should report it to the University of Iowa Police Department, 319-335-5022.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://safety.uiowa.edu/news/2024/05/update-cause-iowa-raptor-project-fire-remains-undetermined",
      "sourceDescription": "University of Iowa Campus Safety news update",
      "annotations": [
        "Verbatim update: raptor project fire cause undetermined; case closed pending new info."
      ],
      "characterCount": 640,
      "confidence": "high"
    }
  ],
  "context": "Official University of Iowa Campus Safety news archive.",
  "keyFindings": [
    "Complete official campus safety notice text recovered."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Fire at Iowa Raptor Project destroys four mews",
      "url": "https://safety.uiowa.edu/news/2024/02/solon-north-liberty-fire-department-respond-fire-iowa-raptor-project",
      "type": "official-archive",
      "accessDate": "2026-07-26"
    },
    {
      "title": "Campus Safety update",
      "url": "https://safety.uiowa.edu/news/2024/05/update-cause-iowa-raptor-project-fire-remains-undetermined",
      "type": "official-archive",
      "accessDate": "2026-07-26"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "2024",
    "campus-safety",
    "fire",
    "iowa"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-07-26",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-26",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}