Hydrant Testing Season Begins Now – Each year WPFD starts testing fire hydrants to ensure good access and proper operation. We have many across our district and this testing takes months to complete. We all start now in late winter or early spring but it takes a while to complete all the testing.

We expect to have all fire hydrants in our fire district completed before June 1st. This includes hydrants connected to either Central Arkansas Water, Paron-Owensville Water (CAW), Salem Water Users, and private hydrants in our fire district boundaries.

When we check them, some natural sediment in the line will be disturbed from the high-flow testing. This can create some dirty or cloudy water. Water in the line is still safe to drink and has no health concerns. The flushing effect simply stirs up some small particles in the line that have settled to the bottom in the many, many miles of supply line.

As we do this effort, we remind you that if you have a fire hydrant on or near your property, there are requirements for access so that we can operate in case you need us to put out a fire on your property or neighborhood. Keeping a hydrant accessible (not gated in or obstructed) and a working area of at least 3 feet radius is needed. It would be so helpful to keep branches, grass, weeds or other obstructions generally trimmed away. Any help you can provide is most appreciated!

If you have questions, post them here and we will do our best to advise. Otherwise, reach out to your local water provider if you use public water (yes, many folks still use well water and that is fine), but be aware some cloudy water during our testing cycle is not necessarily a break in the line or unhealthy.

Heavy snow and ice from this weekend’s winter storm proved too much for the 

Little Rock Yacht Club, causing a massive structural collapse on Sunday, Jan 25, 2026. The weight of the accumulation brought down floating awnings and dock roofs directly onto several houseboats, trapping residents as gangways were pulled underwater.

 West Pulaski Fire Department  responded with help from Pulaski County Office of Emergency Management, Pulaski County Sheriff marine operations, and Little Rock Fire’s Rescue 2.

• Rescued 6 people who were trapped on their boats.
• Evacuated 22 others to safety.
• Zero Injuries, thanks to a coordinated effort involving a local good Samaritan duck hunter who used his boat to help reach those stranded.

While everyone is safe, the damage is significant, with at least one boat sunk and others heavily damaged. We continue to warn residents to stay away from flat-roofed structures like carports and docks, as the remaining ice remains a public safety risk.

https://www.kark.com/video/lingering-impact-of-winter-storm-severely-damages-little-rock-yacht-club/11467167

Roads are still very slick and you should stay home, warm and safe for as long as possible. Don’t get out unless it is absolutely critical to do so and use 4-wheel drive. 2 wheel drive vehicles WILL NOT DO WELL on this ice and snow. We have some reports about plowing but it will take days to get to side streets. Perry County is plowing HWY 113. Pulaski is plowing Parts of Lawson and Col Glenn and Saline county is hard at work to try to get Congo Ferndale and other main roads. Side roads, connectors and residential streets will mostly happen later once main roads are completed for first round plowing. If you have road reports, add them here for plowing near you. Share road conditions, closures you see. We will share what we know also.

Due to the icy roads, emergency responses could be delayed but we are responding to emergencies. Dial 911 for any emergency.

Be sure to follow our FB page or Instagram to get direct updates for west West Pulaski Fire Department (Little Rock, Arkansas) www.wpfirerescue.org

Using supplemental heat to mange the extreme cold and inclement weather can help take some of the demand off of your homes primary heating system. We want every to be sure that they are using heaters approved for indoor use only operating them safely. We have seen the extreme situations where high output propane or kerosene heaters are used indoors can cause fires and can lead to carbon-monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas produced during the combustion process, particularly when the heater is not burning fuel efficiently. Some can also can also produce other potentially harmful pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide.

Be sure your Propane heaters are rated properly for safety and maintained:
-Use Only Indoor-Rated Heaters: Never use an outdoor propane heater inside a home, tent, or garage.
-Ensure Proper Ventilation: Always keep a window or door cracked open to provide a fresh oxygen supply and allow exhaust gases to escape.
-Install a CO Detector: A battery-operated carbon monoxide detector is the only way to reliably detect the gas.

Be sure your Kerosene Heaters are clean and operating efficiently:
-Use Only K-1 Kerosene: Use high-quality, clear K-1 grade kerosene. Never use gasoline, diesel, or camping fuel, as these can cause uncontrollable flames and excessive toxic fumes.
-Install a CO Detector: Since carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, a battery-operated CO detector is essential to provide early warning.
-Never Leave Unattended: Do not leave a kerosene heater running while sleeping or away from home.
-Refuel Outdoors: Always turn the heater off and let it cool completely before refueling outdoors to avoid fire hazards and inhaling concentrated fumes.
-Regular Maintenance: Inspect burners for dirt and ensure they are clean and functioning correctly.

Extreme temperatures are expected in the weekend and following week. Hypothermia is a possibility as the extreme cold temperatures and exposure can cause some very dangerous consequences. Be sure to know the signs of hypothermia to keep yourself safe and call for help as soon as you know help is needed. Call 911 for hypothermia emergencies.