Fire safety has to be the top thing on your holiday wish list to keep your family and home safe for the holidays. We have already….already…..already responded to chimney fires and structure fires this month. It is so important that whether you are trying to stay warm on those extra cold days or celebrating the holidays with extra cooking, that you take precautions to remain safe. Being mindful to around heating appliances or cooking devices (grills, stoves, fryers, etc.) will ensure you have a safe holiday. Make sure your holiday is safe and joyful! Stay safe!

WPFD responded as mutual aid on Tuesday with Lake Maumelle Fire on two separate structure fires in their fire district that were both total losses. Fortunately, no lives were lost. Here is a story about the Roland community chipping in to help during the devastating losses of the homes during this holiday season.

We hope you have a great holiday with family and friends. We are so thankful for you and the wonderful communities we serve!

Please remember those guardians working today and are away from their families protecting, serving, and caring for others so that we can spend time with those we hold close. We are thankful for our fire, police, EMS, dispatchers, medical staff, and more to make our country safe and prosperous. Remember our military soldiers serving stateside and abroad protecting our freedoms. Stay safe!

Vertical Ventilation. When a fire gets into an attic, it needs to be vented. Removing the hot gases decreases the heat in the structure to lessen combustion from super-heated gases. Our crews at each station spent some time on rooftops over the past few weeks with rescue saws at the Martindale training house to slice shingles and roof decking under controlled conditions. Great work folks.

Controlled Burning in the area of Lake Maumelle will continue this week and through the weekend. This large prescribed burn of about 467 acres will continue to produce smoke for days and could affect visibility at times. When ambient temperatures drop in the evenings the smoke will usually fall to the ground and be pushed long distances with wind.