MEMS paramedic dies from injury sustained while responding to Little Rock Marathon

The Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services (MEMS) is mourning the loss of one of their own. Major Dean Douglas lost his life after he was hurt while responding to an emergency call during last week's Little Rock Marathon. He was on life support until Friday. The company released their official statement over Douglas' death in a Facebook post: "Yesterday, we lost a colleague, friend and hero. Major Dean Douglas tragically lost his life after suffering injuries sustained while responding to an emergency call during last week's Little Rock Marathon. He served as a MEMS Paramedic during the race and had been on life support since then. In his last act of heroism, he donated his organs so that others may live. This is the only line-of-duty death that our organization has experienced in our 37-year history. Our prayers are with his family and the colleagues who served alongside him."
KTHV-TV CBS 11 Little Rock

Fayetteville Fire Department responds to structure fire

The Fayetteville Fire Department responded to a structure fire Sunday (Nov. 27) morning on the west side of Fayetteville at around 7 a.m. When crews arrived, there was smoke and fire coming from the front of the house. Crews were able to successfully put out the fire without injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
KFSM-TV CBS 5 Fort Smith

Nonprofit seeks to save Little Rock Fire Station 9

In the middle of the last century, Little Rock Fire Station 9 on East Sixth Street was the hub of the community. "People voted here. The police hung out here -- because they didn't have two-way radios, so this is where they got the calls," says retired firefighter Bob Franklin. Neighbors gathered to hear Fire Capt. Lance Leech play the banjo in the evenings, he adds; kids played on the lawn and roller-skated down the driveway. "This was the center of the neighborhood." Construction on the fire station started in March 1930 and took 64 days. Engine Co. No. 9 moved in June 1930 and occupied it until July 1963, when the city moved it to the airport to supplement the crash station crew. Industry and warehousing were expanding in the area, and so was a community of the people employed therein.
Northwest Arkansas News - Metered Site

14th Annual Turkey Trot for Heroes 5K took place in Rogers

Sheep Dog Impact Assitance (SDIA) held its 14th Annual Turkey Trot For Heroes Thursday, Nov. 25 in Rogers. The competition started at 9 a.m. and took place at St. Mary's Center for Nonprofit. The event featured a traditional 5K run, a virtual version, and a 1-mile fun run and walk. The Wild Gobbler 5K also offered an additional challenge, with five stops with bodyweight exercise challenges. Each stop honored a fallen service member who died this year. The first stop was for Pea Ridge Officer Kevin Apple, who died in the line of duty in June. "Learning about these heroes and their stories and their bios and what they are truly about. Also seeing the people, and their faces and them having a great time, and a good run and seeing them support the cause makes all the difference because they are amazing men and women that come out to do this on Thanksgiving morning."
KFSM-TV CBS 5 Fort Smith

Pea Ridge Fire-EMS has full-time chief

Jared Powell became the first full-time paid fire-emergency services chief for the city of Pea Ridge when he reported to work Monday, Nov. 22. His position and salary were approved by the City Council in the recent approval of the 2022 budget and was partially made affordable by the voters' approval of a one-cent city sales tax. Mayor Jackie Crabtree announced that Powell was to begin work Monday, Nov. 22. Powell previously worked full time for the Bella Vista Fire Department as well as performing his responsibilities for Pea Ridge. The announcement Tuesday at the City Council meeting was met by applause from city officials and by members of the department present at the meeting. At the council Committee of the Whole meeting recently, Powell presented the Fire Department's budget to the council. The biggest change was in equipment and salary, Powell said.
Pea Ridge Times - Metered Site

Series of fires in Pulaski County leaves firefighters suspicious of possible arsonist

A series of suspicious fires in Pulaski County leaves firefighters questioning if they are all connected. The Arch Street Fire Department says they have responded to 20 fires in the same neighborhood this year, and 6 just this month. “It almost seems like it’s nonstop,” said Captain Ted Preator with the Arch Street Fire Department. Assistant Chief Bradley Vick says the fires are all happening in the same area along Dixon, Dreher Road and Ironnton Road. Each time a calling card is left behind. “It’s the exact same item placed the exact same way against the exact kind of stuff that’s burning,” Preator said. The department says they started noticing the trend this year, but fires have really picked up in the last month. Now they say they’re searching for a suspected arsonist.
KARK-TV NBC 4 Little Rock

Restaurant Catches Fire In Downtown Texarkana

Zapata Grill located in downtown Texarkana caught on fire early Tuesday morning. It took place around 9 AM and luckily firefighters were there to put out the flames quickly. Heather Soyars who works across the street from the restaurant said, "The fire started on the grill and then jumped to the vent and caught the ceiling on fire." Fortunately, there were no injuries and the restaurant was not open at the time so no customers were inside the building. Let's hope that the restaurant will open back up soon after any damage has been assessed and repaired. Zapata's is located at 217 Walnut Street. The Texarkana Gazette stated, "Arkansas-side firefighters could see flames on the restaurant's roof when they arrived from Fire Station No. 1 in the Texarkana Municipal Building just across Walnut Street. Smoke drifted out of the building as firefighters, some wearing self-contained breathing gear, worked to stop the fire from spreading."
KKYR-FM 102.5 Texarkana