March 12, 2010:

New fire department headquarters finally opens; Millwood Circle facility remains open as Station 2

It's been a long wait, but Maumelle is now a two fire station town.     Maumelle Fire Station 1 opened for business Friday (March 12), when Engine Company 1 relocated from their former quarters in what is now Fire Station 2 at 100 Millwood Circle. The new station, located at 2000 Murphy Drive, is also the home to all of the fire department's administrative offices.     The station at 100 Millwood Circle will remain open as Fire Station 2, serving as home to Engine Company 2. Engine 1 will protect a large portion of the city's industrial park as well as neighborhoods throughout the northern portion of Maumelle and the Morgan commercial district. Engine 2 will be first-due to most areas of the city south of Edgewood Drive, Naylor Drive & Lake Valley Drive.     Fire Station 1 meets many needs not provided for in the old facilities. For the first time, the fire department will have a training room for both in-house training and outside courses taught by agencies such as the Arkansas Fire Academy. Offices for the Fire Chief, Fire Marshal and Administrative Assistant will be under one roof for the first time since 2008, when Fire Marshal John Payne had to relocate to City Hall so that living quarters at Millwood Circle could be expanded. The three apparatus bays more than double the space available to house the department's fleet of vehicles.     The initial plan for Fire Station 2 is to renovate the now-vacant police department offices into living quarters for Engine Company 2. Moving the career firefighters downstairs from their current living space will allow for quicker response times and improved energy efficiency in the station. Engine 2 will continue to share the building with the Maumelle District Court. The eventual plan is to relocate Station 2 to a site further south to improve coverage of the city. However, no timetable exists for that project.     The need for two fire stations was first outlined in a memo from Fire Chief George Glenn to then-Mayor Burch Johnson in 2003. The memo stated that two fire stations with a minimum of three firefighters on duty at a time in each station was necessary to protect the city, which had an estimated population of 13,000 at the time. Currently, the two stations are staffed with a minimum of two firefighters at a time. Maumelle's population is estimated at more than 16,000.     Land for the new fire and police stations was first set aside in 2006 by the Maumelle Public Facilities Board, but plans for the fire station were temporarily scrapped in 2007. The idea was renewed in February 2008, when the Public Facilities Board again approved use of the land for police and fire stations. Ground was broken on the site October 20, 2008 and construction began in earnest before the end of that year. Originally slated to open in Fall 2009, the final move-in was delayed some six months due to extremely wet weather last year.

[ Return To Top ]

March 5, 2010:

Maumelle firefighters were recently recognized by the Maumelle Rotary Club at the annual Police & Fire Banquet. Firefighters gathered for a photo afterward. Pictured are (from left) Firefighter Dustin Worlow, Captain Michael Cossey, Fire Marshal John Payne, Engineer Jeremy New, Captain Shane Holmes, Firefighter Josh Woods, Chief of Department George Glenn, Firefighter Travis Foreman, Engineer Charles Watson, Engineer Paul Grove, Captain Eugene Stacy, Firefighter Tyler Castleberry and Probationary Firefighter Destin Weaver. (Photo by Terri Cossey)

Firefighters recognized at annual Rotary banquet

Career and volunteer members of the Maumelle Fire Department were among those recognized during the annual Police & Fire Banquet Friday, March 5. The banquet is sponsored annually by the Maumelle Rotary Club and held at the Maumelle Country Club.     Awards presented during the banquet included:     Five-Year Service Recognition - Volunteer Firefighters Maury Loket and Bynum Matthews were recognized for five years of service with the fire department. They each joined during Summer 2004.     Five-Year Good Conduct - Captain Shane Holmes, Captain Scott Eaton, Engineer Adam Swalls, Engineer Austin Woody and Firefighter Josh Wood were recognized with awards for five years of exemplary conduct in the performance of duty. The hiring of the "Class of 2004" allowed the fire department to split from the Department of Public Safety in December 2004.     Ten-Year Good Conduct - Captain Eugene Stacy received a ten-year Good Conduct Award in addition to being recognized for 25 years of service to the City of Maumelle Department of Public Safety and Fire Department.     Meritorious Service Award - Fire Marshal John Payne, Captain Michael Cossey, Engineer Adam Cordell and Firefighter Travis Foreman were presented the Meritorious Service Award for lifesaving. After finding a patient not breathing and without a pulse last November, these members successfully resuscitated the patient using CPR and an automatic external defibrillator (AED).      Career Firefighter of the Year - Firefighter Tyler Castleberry was named the 2009 Career Firefighter of the Year. Castleberry was hired in July 2007 and is assigned to Engine 2 on B-shift.     Volunteer Firefighter of the Year - Volunteer Engineer Kyle Howard was named the 2009 Volunteer Firefighter of the Year. Howard joined the department in April 2003.       Civilian Service Recognition - Chief Glenn recognized resident Linda Stowe with a Civilian Service Recognition award for her continued support of the fire department and its members.

[ Return To Top ]

February 14, 2010:

Captain Scott Eaton, Volunteer Captain Ed Platt and Firefighter Dustin Jaco pull a hose line out the door of a 38-foot recreational vehicle after extinguishing a fire in the RV's kitchen area Sunday morning (Feb. 14) outside the McDonald's restaurant on ARK 365. (Photo by Blake Sasse)

MFD put to work extinguishing Valentine's Day RV fire

Maumelle firefighters have battled house fires.     Maumelle firefighters have extinguished vehicle fires.     Sunday morning (Feb. 14), the Maumelle Fire Department combined the two when they were dispatched to a fire inside a recreational vehicle outside of the McDonald's Restaurant at 20605 Arkansas 365.     The first arriving engine company found smoke and fire showing from the passenger side of the approximately 38-foot long RV. A hose line was stretched, the outside fire was knocked down and firefighters then entered the smoky vehicle to find and extinguish the remainder of the fire.     The exact cause of the fire in the 2005 Coachmen Cross Country is under investigation at this time although it appears to have ignited behind appliances in the vehicle's kitchen area.     In all, Engine 1 and Engine 2 each staffed with two on-duty career firefighters responded with support from eight volunteer firefighters responding with Brush 1 and personal vehicles. CLICK HERE for additional photos from the scene.

[ Return To Top ]

February 10, 2010:

After hitting a patch of black ice, this Maumelle police cruiser struck a tree in the median of Maumelle Blvd. near its intersection with Rolling Oaks Drive Wednesday night (February 10).

Firefighters respond to MVA involving police car

A full compliment of Maumelle career and volunteer firefighters responded Wednesday night (February 10) to an injury accident involving a police car and a tree on Maumelle Boulevard.     In addition to the normal vehicle accident response of Engine 1 and Engine 2 staffed by career firefighters, Maumelle volunteers were attending their twice-monthly training at the fire station and also responded.     Police Officer Lance Mayfield was injured when his patrol car apparently crossed a patch of black ice, left the roadway and struck a tree in the median near the intersection of Rolling Oaks Drive. Maumelle firefighters treated Officer Mayfield for his non life-threatening injuries before he was transported to an area hospital by Metropolitan EMS (MEMS).     Due to icy road conditions, volunteer firefighters staffing Brush 1 also assisted police with traffic control in an effort to prevent secondary accidents.

[ Return To Top ]

February 9, 2010:

One trapped in Odom rollover, extricated by MFD

Maumelle Engine Company 2, which was staffing the department's four-wheel drive brush truck due to winter road conditions, responded to a report of an injury accident Tuesday (Feb. 9) on Odom Blvd. near Southshore Dr.     When they arrived, firefighters found the lone occupant of a Jeep trapped inside his vehicle following a rollover. Engine Company 1 was dispatched to the scene for the department's extrication equipment -- commonly called the Jaws of Life. The five career firefighters on duty with B-shift freed the patient from the vehicle and treated his injuries with the assistance of Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services (MEMS), who transported him to an area hospital.

[ Return To Top ]

February 6, 2009:

Maumelle firefighters greeted Kroger patrons Saturday, February 6 in a final push to raise money for the Arkansas Fallen Firefighters' Memorial. The memorial statue, which has been on display in Maumelle since December, is slated to leave later this month.

Firefighters sell more than $1k for memorial raffle Fund to construct statues at capitol is near 75% of goal

Maumelle firefighters want to see the statue that has been on display at their Millwood Circle station disappear -- and be installed at its permanent home on the grounds of the state capitol in Little Rock.     A multi-year fund-raising effort around the state has raised approximately 75% of the $1,100,000 needed to construct a memorial ampitheatre and fountain as well as install the statues on the west side of the capitol building.     Members of the Maumelle Fire Department have participated in the fund-raising by selling raffle tickets for a Honda Multi-purpose Utility Vehicle and an antique 1975 Hurst Oldsmobile Cutlass. Saturday (February 6), firefighters greeted patrons at the Maumelle Kroger and raised an additional $1,156 for the memorial through raffle ticket sales.     Members participating in Saturday's raffle sale included Captains Shane Holmes, Michael Cossey, Eugene Stacy and Drew Nichols; Engineer Jeremy New; Volunteer Engineer Andy Wood; Firefighters Josh Woods, Tyler Castleberry, Destin Weaver and Todd Breeding; and Volunteer Firefighters Maury Loket, Chris Anderson, Marc Kelly and Zacil Nash.     The firefighters would like to offer special thanks to Kroger Manager Richard Highley for his continued support of fund-raising for the memorial.

Captain Shane Holmes, Firefighter Tyler Castleberry and Engineer Jeremy New were among 14 firefighters who endured cool temperatures to raise money Saturday for the Fallen Firefighters Memorial. More than 200 tickets were sold for the chance to win a Honda Multi-purpose Utility Vehicle or a 1975 Hurst Oldsmobile Cutlass.

[ Return To Top ]

January 31, 2009:

Engineer Adam Cordell applies chains to the tires of Engine 2 Friday, January 29 during the winter storm. Maumelle firefighters used a variety of apparatus to respond to 13 different calls during the 40 hours of heaviest ice on city streets.

Ice slows but doesn't stop firefighters from duties MFD tackles 13 runs -- including house fire -- during storm

There are no snow days at the fire department and Maumelle firefighters were kept busy Friday and Saturday as ice blanketed the city.     Firefighters responded over the icy streets for 13 runs between Friday morning and midnight Saturday. These calls for assistance included a chimney fire that extended beyond the flue pipe, four traumatic injuries, three medical emergencies, a gas leak, a non-injury accident and a lifting assist.

[ Return To Top ]

January 3, 2010:

Despite temperatures in the 20s, firefighters, citizens and civic leaders from around central Arkansas gathered Monday night (Jan. 3) for a prayer vigil in honor of Pine Bluff Fire Department Lieutenant David Curlin.

Maumelle hosts vigil for injured Pine Bluff lieutenant

Approximately three dozen people gathered Monday night (January 3) at the Arkansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial statue for a candlelight vigil in honor of Pine Bluff Fire Department Lieutenant David Curlin.     Lt. Curlin was critically injured Sunday morning during a building collapse on the scene of a commercial structure fire. He is hospitalized at UAMS in Little Rock with multiple injuries. Members of the Curlin family, including wife Pam Curlin, also attended the vigil sponsored by the Arkansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial. The memorial statue has completed a multi-city tour of the state and is currently on display at the Maumelle Fire Department.     A relief fund has been established for the Curlin family at Simmons First National Bank. Contributions may be deposited into account 10925304 at any Simmons First location, although contributors should advise the teller that the fund is a Pine Bluff account. The prayer vigil was held at the Arkansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial statue, which is ending a statewide tour and is currently on display outside the Maumelle Fire Department.

[ Return To Top ]

Site Design & Original Content Copyright © 2003-10, Michael Cossey. All Rights Reserved. Don't Steal. MaumelleFire.Com is the unofficial Web site of the Maumelle Fire Department and is privately owned & operated. No endorsement of the site's contents by the Maumelle Fire Department or the City of Maumelle is expressed or implied. HOSTING PROVIDED BY ARKANSASFIRE.NET