North Little Rock Fire Department

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North Little Rock Fire Department

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The NLR Fire Department’s mission is to preserve the lives and property of those we serve.

10/27/2026

Playing the Victim

Sometimes being part of the team means you get to play the victim. Literally...

Today, one of our own got the honor of being packaged into a rescue litter while fellow team members practiced their patient packaging and technical rescue skills at beautiful Emerald Park.

We’re fortunate to have incredible natural resources like Emerald Park right in our backyard. The steep terrain and challenging conditions provide a realistic training environment that simply can’t be replicated in a classroom.

And while today’s victim was just playing the part, the skills being practiced are very real!

Fill out this interest form to stay updated on how you can join North Little Rock Fire. https://zurl.co/VhnBI

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10/26/2026

Our Hearts Are Heavy for the St. Lucie County Fire District

Once again, the North Little Rock Fire Department joins firefighters across the nation in mourning the line-of-duty death of Firefighter/Paramedic Austin Hodge, who passed away Saturday, October 24, while serving his community. These heartbreaking announcements seem to come far too often, and each one is a painful reminder of the sacrifices made by those who dedicate their lives to serving others.

This tragedy is especially heartbreaking as Austin’s younger brother, also a firefighter/paramedic, passed away just over a year ago at the age of 26.

There are simply no words that can adequately describe the grief this family must be experiencing, or the heartbreak felt by the firefighters who worked alongside him. To lose one loved one is devastating. To endure such a loss twice, in such a short time, is almost unimaginable.

We mourn alongside the Hodge family and our brothers and sisters of the St. Lucie County Fire District. Our thoughts are with everyone whose life was touched by Austin and his brother.

May their family find strength in the love and support surrounding them, and may both brothers be remembered for their lives of service.

Rest easy, brothers. We have it from here.

10/22/2026

Honoring the Fallen | Never Forgotten

The North Little Rock Fire Department joins the United States Forest Service and the entire firefighting community in mourning the tragic line-of-duty death of Wildland Firefighter Kaitlyn “KK” Gallagher, 24.

Firefighter Gallagher lost her life on October 14, 2026, after being struck by a falling tree while conducting wildfire operations in Louisiana’s Kisatchie National Forest.

When most people think about the dangers of firefighting, they often picture burning buildings, intense heat, and smoke-filled environments. But the risks of our profession extend far beyond structural firefighting.

Wildland firefighting is inherently dangerous. Firefighters working in forests and remote terrain face unpredictable fire behavior, rapidly changing weather conditions, falling trees, difficult terrain, and countless other hazards. These men and women routinely place themselves in harm’s way to protect lives, property, and our natural resources.

Whether battling flames inside a burning structure or fighting a wildfire deep in the forest, the dangers are real, and the sacrifices can be immeasurable.

At just 24 years old, KK had already answered the call to serve, dedicating herself to protecting others.

Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, fellow firefighters, and the entire United States Forest Service during this incredibly difficult time.

Different uniforms. Different assignments. One firefighting family.

Rest easy, Firefighter Gallagher. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.

We will never forget.

10/21/2026

Inquiring Minds Want to Know… Where Was All That Smoke Coming From?

We know some of you were curious, and several have asked about the large amount of thick, black smoke seen around Riverfront Park and East Broadway last night. Well, here’s the story!

Last night, at approximately 8:30 PM, North Little Rock firefighters were dispatched to a possible residential structure fire after reports of heavy black smoke in the area. The smoke was significant enough to be seen from quite a distance.

But when crews arrived, they quickly realized this wasn’t your typical fire. In fact, it wasn’t a structure fire at all. Instead, firefighters discovered heavy black smoke pouring out of multiple storm drains in different locations.

Now that’s something you don’t see every day!

So, where was it coming from?

After a little investigating and some good old-fashioned problem-solving, crews traced the source to a large drainage culvert near the Junction Bridge that empties directly into the Arkansas River. It appeared someone had set fire to a pile of wood and other debris inside the culvert. Here’s where things got interesting.

The culvert was lined with tar, which contributed to the thick, black smoke. With the wind blowing in from the river, the culvert essentially became a giant chimney, pushing smoke through the underground drainage system and out of storm drains in several different locations.

And just like that, a relatively small fire created a whole lot of smoke and quite a mystery downtown!

Firefighters located and extinguished the fire, and fortunately, no further damage was reported.

It’s a good reminder that things aren’t always what they appear to be. Sometimes a relatively small incident can create a pretty big scene, and sometimes what looks like a major emergency turns out to be something entirely unexpected.

That’s part of what makes this job interesting. Not every call comes with an obvious answer, and sometimes figuring out what’s happening is half the challenge.

Just another night in the fire service, where you never quite know what the next call will bring...

10/19/2026

Early Morning Commercial Structure Fire Response

At approximately 5:40 a.m. this morning, North Little Rock firefighters responded to the 2900 block of Highway 161 after receiving numerous 911 calls reporting a building heavily involved in fire.

Engine 10 arrived on scene and reported a fully involved former service station. The property was located just outside the North Little Rock city limits in Pulaski County.

When emergencies occur near city limits or jurisdictional boundaries, the exact location isn’t always immediately clear. Depending on where a 911 call originates and how its location is identified, those boundaries can sometimes be difficult to distinguish during the initial response.

But when someone calls reporting a fire, our priority is simple: Get there, get to work, and protect lives and property.

Due to the extent of the fire, crews initiated defensive firefighting operations, with Truck 1 setting up for aerial operations to assist with extinguishment.

Just before the morning shift change, crews from the East Pulaski Fire Department arrived on scene to assist with the incident.

Firefighting operations continued through shift change, with incoming B-shift personnel relieving North Little Rock crews on scene and assisting East Pulaski Fire with ongoing operations.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

10/17/2026

Stabilize. Lift. Extricate.

While most folks were enjoying their Saturday, members of the North Little Rock Fire Rescue 1 crew were putting in some work!

Today, our firefighters participated in the Res-Q-Jack Strut Lifting Class, hosted by Dixie Rescue SolutionsRescue Specialists in Little Rock.

This hands-on training focused on advanced vehicle stabilization, heavy lifting, and complex rescue operations, including stabilizing overturned 18-wheelers, lifting and rolling vehicles, and using specialized strut systems to safely manage heavy loads.

These are challenging, high-risk, low-frequency situations where the right equipment, training, and teamwork can make all the difference.

Our Special Operations Team trains for the calls that don’t happen every day, but when they do, there’s little room for error.

A big thank you to Dixie Rescue Solutions for providing this valuable training opportunity!

10/13/2026

A Different Perspective. A Safer Approach.

Last night, North Little Rock firefighters responded to an overturned 18-wheeler on Interstate 40 westbound. Fortunately, the driver was shaken up but uninjured and only needed assistance exiting the vehicle.

But there’s another part of this response we wanted to highlight.

The North Little Rock Police Department continues to develop an impressive drone program, and their expertise and use of this technology provide an invaluable resource for public safety, including our firefighters.

When responding to incidents involving large commercial vehicles, particularly those that may be transporting hazardous materials or specialized cargo, one of the priorities is determining exactly what we’re dealing with.

Not that many years ago, that often meant relying on binoculars, observations from a distance, and sometimes a little educated guesswork before personnel could safely get close enough to gather more information.

Today, drones are changing that.

With the ability to quickly get airborne and provide real-time aerial reconnaissance, NLRPD can help us assess an incident from multiple angles, identify potential hazards, examine cargo markings and vehicle conditions, and gather critical information without unnecessarily exposing firefighters to unknown dangers.

What might have once required personnel to physically approach a potentially hazardous scene can sometimes be evaluated in a fraction of the time, from a much safer distance.

Of course, technology doesn’t eliminate the need for firefighters to get in there and do the work. But it can help us make better-informed decisions about when, where, and how we do it.

Less unnecessary exposure. Faster reconnaissance. Better situational awareness. Safer operations.

Fortunately, last night’s incident did not involve any significant hazardous cargo concerns, but it was another reminder of just how valuable this technology and the pilots operating it can be.

We’re fortunate to have a police department that continues to invest in these capabilities and the expertise to put them to work.

Great work, NLRPD!

10/12/2026

Brick by Brick

Some people leave an impression that time simply cannot erase. Firefighter/Paramedic Jonathon Elias “Eli” Staton was one of those people.

Eli was just 26 years old when he unexpectedly passed away on February 4, 2018. A member of our Engine 7 crew, Eli loved being a firefighter and paramedic. But perhaps even more than that, he loved the people around him.

Eli was larger than life, both literally and figuratively. He was a big, strong guy who towered over most everyone around him. But as big as Eli was, the only things bigger were his smile, his personality, and his heart. He had an infectious laugh, a personality that could fill a room, and a way of making everyone around him smile. If you ever met Eli, chances are you never forgot him.

He was a husband, a son, a brother, a friend, and a firefighter who meant so much to so many.

Although his time with us was far too short, the impact he made continues today. Through the Eli Staton Memorial Scholarship, established by his fellow firefighters, his legacy lives on by helping others pursue the same calling he loved so much.

Today, we had the privilege of honoring Eli once again with the placement of a memorial brick at our Fallen Firefighter Memorial Plaza. We were especially grateful to have his family, friends, and fellow firefighters join us for this meaningful occasion.

It’s a simple tribute, just one brick among many, but the name engraved upon it represents a life, a story, and memories that will remain with us for generations. It’s a permanent reminder that Eli will always have a place in the North Little Rock Fire Department family.

To Eli’s wife, Allie, his parents, Jon and Michelle, and everyone who knew and loved him, we hope today serves as another reminder that Eli has never been forgotten, and he never will be.

The years may pass, the faces around the firehouse may change, but the memories and the bonds we share remain.

Once our brother, always our brother.

Rest easy, Eli. We’ve got it from here.

10/11/2026

What a fantastic weekend. We hope everyone had a great time, made some memories, and enjoyed every minute of it!

Now let’s make it an even better week. We’ll be right here doing what we always do, looking out for you.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, and get out there tomorrow and knock it outta the park!

Fill out this interest form to stay updated on how you can join North Little Rock Fire. https://zurl.co/X06aH

Don’t forget to like, share, and follow. We want to keep everyone connected. From the firehouse to the fire ground, we love what we do and do it for you!

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Address

723 N Maple Street
North Little Rock, AR
72114

Telephone

+15013405377

Website

http://nlr.ar.gov/fire

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