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| August 7, 2009: |
 The trapped driver of this four-door passenger car was extricated by Maumelle firefighters following an accident Friday (August 7) in the 20700 block of Arkansas Highway 365 in the Morgan area. (Photos by Drew Nichols) |
| B-Shift extricates one trapped in Hwy. 365 accident |
| At
approximately 9:18 pm Friday night (August 7), Maumelle
firefighters were dispatched to a reported multiple vehicle accident
with injuries in the 20700 block of Hwy. 365 in the Morgan commercial
district. Engine Company 1, staffed by two firefighters, and Engine Company 2, staffed by three firefighters, responded and found two vehicles involved in a side impact collision with one person trapped. Firefighters used the full compliment of their extrication tools -- including hydraulic cutters & spreaders commonly known as the Jaws of Life in addition to a power saw -- to free the patient. Personnel were on scene for approximately one hour and 30 minutes, with most of that time spent dedicated to extrication. Because both engines and all on-duty personnel were committed to the scene, volunteer firefighters were dispatched to staff the fire station in the event of an additional call. |
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| August 1, 2009: |
| 130 calls in July breaks monthly response record |
| Two years
after establishing the previous monthly run record of 121 responses, Maumelle
firefighters stretched the benchmark to 130 calls in July 2009. The fire department responded to 766 incidents through the end of July for an average of 109 calls per month. |
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| July 29, 2009: |
| Special
Delivery: MFD rescues newspaper man from stuck elevator |
| Before
dawn on Wednesday, July 29, Engine Companies 1 & 2 staffed by two
firefighters each, responded to 100 Audubon Drive for a report of a
person trapped in a stalled elevator. When firefighters arrived and discovered the newspaper delivery man inside, they attempted to force open the elevator doors to allow the man to escape on the same floor where the elevator had stalled. The inner set of doors refused to cooperate so personnel relocated and made entry from the floor above the elevator car. Access was gained to the car through the trap door in the ceiling and a ladder was lowered to allow the occupant to safely escape without injury. |
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| July 3, 2009: |
| MFD
quickly contains Union Court apartment fire; Firefighters treat occupants for smoke inhalation |
| Moments
after Engine Company 2 arrived on the scene of an emergency medical
call in the Waterside neighborhood Friday afternoon (July
3), Maumelle Police & Fire Communications dispatched an apartment
fire at 500 Union Court. With two firefighters initially committed to the medical call, the two career firefighters assigned to Engine Company 1 requested an additional dispatch for Maumelle volunteers and responded to the scene, finding smoke showing from Apartment 37. Several volunteer firefighters responded within moments of Engine 1's arrival and all personnel had their hands full initially. As one crew made entry into the apartment -- working through thick smoke that severely limited visibility -- other firefighters outside evaluated four occupants of the apartment for smoke inhalation. Engine Company 2 cleared from the medical call as soon as MEMS arrived and responded to assist at the fire. Personnel cleared the apartment of smoke by taking out a bedroom window and using a fan to pressurize the interior. The fire, which appeared to begin in a bedroom mattress, was extinguished and fire damage was contained to the room of origin. Two of the occupants were transported by Metropolitan EMS (MEMS) to an area hospital. In all, four career firefighters staffing Engine 1 & Engine 2, seven volunteers responding in personal vehicles & Brush 1 as well as Fire Chief George Glenn responded to the scene. One off-duty career firefighter was recalled to work and North Little Rock's Engine Company 4 responded to the Millwood Circle Fire Station to provide coverage to the city. Fire Marshal John Payne was summoned to the scene for a fire cause investigation. |
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| July 2, 2009: |
| Firefighters
find smoke showing when responding to commercial fire alarm in industrial park MFD extinguishes fire; crew leaves for simultaneous medical call |
| The Maumelle
Fire Department responds to a number of automatic fire alarms
throughout the year only to find that many are false or are tripped
by causes such as burned food. However, firefighters answer
every alarm as though there may be a fire -- which is exactly
what they found Wednesday night (July 1) as they arrived at the
Cintas facility on Champs Blvd. Five career firefighters staffing Engine 1 & Engine 2 arrived to find smoke showing from the building. One engine company hooked in to the building's sprinkler system to prepare to supplement any sprinklers flowing inside. The second company made entry into the building to investigate. Four volunteer firefighters also responded to the incident. Once inside, personnel found a large bin burning. The bin was moved outside of the building and emptied so that firefighters could extinguish the contents with a hose line. The building's sprinkler system was shut down and the area was ventilated to clear it of smoke. While operating at the fire, Maumelle firefighters were dispatched to a medical emergency on the city's northside. With both engines committed, two firefighters staffed Brush 1, which had been brought to the scene by volunteers, and responded. |
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| July 1, 2009: |
| Staffing plan to keep both engine companies open |
| The
Maumelle Fire Department announced Tuesday afternoon (June 30) a plan to
maintain minimum fire department staffing of four firefighters. Mayor Mike Watson, Fire Chief George Glenn and Captain Shane Holmes, president of the Maumelle Professional Firefighters Association, met Tuesday to finalize a staffing plan that will provide for a minimum of four firefighters to be on duty every day. With four personnel on duty, both of the city’s engine companies will remain in service with a minimum of two firefighters each. "The professional firefighters are pleased that all sides came together to solve this issue, which is very important to us and the people we serve," said Maumelle Professional Firefighters Secretary Michael Cossey. "Our firefighters solve problems for families and individuals every day. It's good to sit down with the mayor and fire chief and contribute solutions to these larger issues, as well." |
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| June 27, 2009: |
| Firefighters hampered on first day of engine company closure |
| When
Maumelle firefighters were dispatched to a possible residential structure
fire shortly after midnight Saturday morning (June 27), Engine Company 2
sat empty and quiet -- temporarily closed due to budget shortfalls. The three career firefighters staffing Engine 1 responded and volunteer firefighters were dispatched for assistance. Responding members were soon notified that the call was actually a grass fire near the Gables Apartments and the construction site of new police & fire stations. Only one volunteer firefighter responded to the scene. A second volunteer, still in the probationary period and unable to complete some firefighting tasks or drive apparatus, remained at the station. Firefighters were on scene for nearly an hour extinguishing and overhauling the site of the fire. The cause is undetermined at this time. The 24-hour shift beginning at 7am June 26 was the first of multiple temporary engine closures planned this summer caused by a lack of funds in the department's overtime budget. Overtime has been necessary to staff both engine companies because seven of the 21 career firefighters are unavailable to work due to illness, injury, military leave or rookie training. |
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| June 26, 2009: |
| Budget concerns shut down Engine Company 2 |
| If
an emergency happens in the city of Maumelle this summer, there may
not be a second fire engine leaving the station to help. Temporary shut downs
-- called brown outs -- of Engine Company 2 began Friday, June 26. The closures are necessitated by a shortage of funds in the department's overtime budget. Currently, seven of the 21 career firefighters are unable to work due to sickness, injury, military leave or training. With no money in the overtime budget, the department is unable to fill vacancies and will shut down an engine company any day fewer than four firefighters are able to report for duty. The fire department began staffing two fire engines with a minimum of two firefighters last year after expanding the roster of career firefighters to 21 positions. Having a second engine company enhances the department's ability to respond to fires, but also allows for an immediate response to simultaneous emergencies without having to wait for volunteer firefighters to be paged and respond. Since April 1, there have been 54 incidents that saw both engine companies respond to handle the situation. A total of 75 incidents since April 1 has occurred simultaneously, back-to-back or in close proximity to one another. |
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| June 2, 2009: |
| Heavy flames greet firefighters at Counts Massie house fire |
| Maumelle
Engine 1 and Engine 2 found heavy fire showing from the front of the house
upon their arrival at 7009 Counts Massie Road Tuesday night (June 2). The occupant of the residence stated that the house was empty and fire personnel initially determined the structure too unsafe to enter. The two career firefighters staffing each engine then went to work suppressing the fire. Engine Company 2 began fire attack with a deck gun and a 1.75" hose line while Engine Company 1 made the connection to the fire hydrant and laid a large diameter hose line to supply water. Both companies, with the assistance of seven volunteer firefighters who also responded, brought the fire under control before fire spread throughout the small, wood-frame structure. Fire Marshal John Payne was called to the scene to begin cause and origin determination. The fire remains under investigation. The fire saw all Maumelle fire apparatus -- Engine 1, Engine 2 and Brush 1 on scene. Truck 1 has been out of service with mechanical issues since May 1. |
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| May 30, 2009: |
 The statues that will eventually become the centerpiece of the Arkansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial on the grounds of the state capitol made a brief stop in Maumelle Saturday (May 30) at the Kroger store on Commons Drive. |
| Firefighters escort statues created to honor fallen |
| There
was no multiple-alarm fire Saturday morning, but it may have sounded that
way as an escort of fire engines guided the Arkansas Fallen Firefighters
Memorial statues through Maumelle. The statues stopped briefly to allow Maumelle citizens to see them up close. Approximately two dozen people milled around the 16-foot, 6,000 pound sculpture during its twenty-minute "whistlestop" in front of Kroger, which was arranged with the help of store manager Richard Highley. Engine 1, Engine 2 & Brush 1 led the short parade from Interstate 40 to Commons Drive and again out Maumelle Blvd. into North Little Rock as the statues made their way to Saline County. They will be on display at the Benton Municipal Complex through June 20. More than $700,000 has been raised (approximately 72% of total cost) for construction of the Arkansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial on the west side of the state capitol. The memorial will include a fountain, small amphitheater and will feature the names of all 93 Arkansas firefighters who died in the line of duty. There are still a number of ways to contribute to the memorial. In addition to donations, engraved granite pavers for the memorial grounds are being sold and specialty license plates are available to all motorists from the Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration (see link at bottom of this page). For more information about the memorial, visit arfallenfirefighters.org. |
 Five career firefighters, including four on-duty personnel staffing Engine Companies 1 & 2, escorted the sculpture through town and met with local citizens during its stop. They include (from left) Captain Michael Cossey, Engineer Charles Watson, Engineer Paul Grove, Firefighter Tyler Castleberry and Engineer Jeremy New. |
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| May 21, 2009: |
 The 16-foot-high, 6,000 pound sculpture that will be featured at the Arkansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial will make a stop in Maumelle on Saturday, May 30. The statue will be on display between 8:00 am and 8:30 am at the Kroger store on Commons Drive. All citizens are encouraged to visit and see the statues up close. |
| Memorial statues to make brief stop in Maumelle |
| The
sculpture that will eventually become the centerpiece of the Arkansas Fallen
Firefighters Memorial will make a stop in Maumelle Saturday morning (May
30). The 16-foot-high sculpture features four statues representing different aspects of the Arkansas fire services -- a historic firefighter, a modern firefighter, a wildland firefighter and a female firefighter rendering medical aid. The statues are touring the state in an effort to raise money for construction of the memorial behind the Arkansas State Capitol. The sculpture, which weighs 6,000 pounds, will leave Conway at approximately 7:30 am Saturday and will be escorted into Maumelle by members of the Maumelle Fire Department. It will be on display at the Kroger parking lot between 8:00 am and 8:30 am. After leaving Maumelle, the memorial entourage will continue on to Benton, where the statues will be on display through June 20. Maumelle citizens are encouraged to stop by and see the statues up close as well as have the chance to meet with Maumelle firefighters and other supporters of the memorial. Although the sculpture is complete, funds are still being raised for construction of a memorial plaza on the west side of the Capitol in Little Rock. When complete, the memorial will include the names of the 93 Arkansas firefighters who have died in the line of duty. For more information about the memorial, visit arfallenfirefighters.org. |
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| May 17, 2009: |
 Engineer Austin Woody and Firefighter Patrick McIntire survey damage after a passenger car ran into an apartment building at 400 Valencia Drive. |
| Vehicle
strikes Valencia Drive apartment building; MFD sent to separate smoke call while on scene |
| Maumelle
firefighters were dispatched for a motor vehicle accident with unknown injuries
shortly before 6 p.m. Sunday, May 17. Upon arriving at the dispatch address
of 400 Valencia Drive, firefighters found a passenger car into Building
12 of the Bay Pointe Apartments. The two firefighters staffing each engine company went to work accessing the driver of the vehicle for injuries and in searching the apartments for occupants. During their search, firefighters found light smoke conditions inside caused by leaking refrigerant in the air conditioning units. They evacuated one occupant from the ground floor. Three volunteer firefighters also responded and assisted on the call. Engine Company 2 remained on the scene until power could be safely shut off to the building and the vehicle could be removed. Firefighters then covered the hole in the building with plastic sheeting. At approximately 1855, firefighters who were operating at the scene of the accident were dispatched to a report of smoke inside of an apartment at 1200 Union Court. The two members of Engine Company 1 and two volunteer firefighters responded. Firefighters found nothing showing upon their arrival, but their investigation revealed a haze and strong odor of smoke in the apartment. A search of adjacent units was completed and the source of the smoke was found to be an overheated washing machine. The machine was unplugged and the smoke was cleared with a positive pressure fan before personnel cleared the second scene. |
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| April 27, 2009: |
| Neighbors report house fire while occupants sleep |
| A
Maumelle family was asleep in their Platte Cove home shortly after midnight
Monday, April 27 when their house caught fire. It was neighbors from Yukon
Cove who saw the flames near the garage who called 911 and then drove
the house to alert the family of the fire. Maumelle Engine 1 & Engine 2, each staffed with two firefighters, arrived to find fire outside of the garage and extending into the attic of the house. The career firefighters, assisted by three volunteers who also responded and staffed Truck 1, extinguished the fire quickly using a 1.75" attack hose line. The occupants were able to safely escape the house after being woken by their neighbors. North Little Rock Engine 4 was requested to fill in at the Maumelle fire station because all MFD apparatus were on scene. Three career firefighters were recalled to duty. One remained in quarters to assist Engine 4 while the other two responded to the scene with Brush 1 and the mobile air unit. Fire Marshal John Payne was also summoned to the scene to begin the department's investigation. |
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| April 23, 2009: |
| Easter Seals children tour Maumelle fire station |
 Children from Easter Seals of Arkansas in Little Rock visited the Maumelle Fire Department Thursday (April 23) with a tour conducted by Engine Company 1 (A-Shift). Station tours are popular with many groups as Maumelle firefighters are always happy to show off our station, apparatus & equipment. Tours are one of the MFD's many public presentations that allow firefighter the chance to interact with those they serve. |
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| March 8, 2009: |
| Firefighters assist Oak Grove with brush fire |
| Three
career firefighters staffing Engine 2 and Brush 1 and one volunteer firefighter
responded shortly after 6 p.m. Sunday (March 8) to assist the Oak Grove Fire
Department with a large brush fire off Ingram Road north of the Maumelle
city limits. Firefighters used rakes, hand tools and water-filled backpacks as well as Brush 1's pump and forestry hose to help extinguish the fire. The fire burned several acres of wooded land west of Ingram Road. Two off-duty career firefighters were recalled to duty during the incident to supplement the two firefighters staffing Engine Company 1. |
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| March 8, 2009: |
| MFD
extinguishes multiple fires at soccer complex Occupied firefighters unable to respond to medical call |
| Four
career firefighters staffing Engine Company 1 and Engine Company 2 responded
shortly before 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning (March 8) for a report of multiple
fires at the Rolling Oaks Soccer Complex on Fair Play Way. Upon their arrival, fire department personnel found small fires burning in trash cans throughout the park as well as a larger fire burning under the eave of the east concession stand. Further investigation revealed fire in that's building's restrooms, which was extinguished with a 1.75" hose line. The fires are considered suspicious in nature and are under investigation by Division Chief John Payne, who serves as the city's fire marshal. Volunteer firefighters were dispatched to the incident as well, and two responded to the scene. While on scene, Police & Fire Communications received a report of a medical emergency on Commercial Park Court. However, all available firefighters were committed to the incident at Fair Play Way and were unable to respond to the call. |
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| February 27, 2009: |
 Chief George Glenn presented Firefighter of the Year awards to Temporary Engineer Adam Cordell (left) and Volunteer Captain Larry Pruss during the annual Rotary Club Banquet February 27 at the Maumelle Country Club. |
| Firefighters recognized at annual Fire & Police Banquet |
|
Career and volunteer members of the Maumelle Fire Department were among those
recognized during the annual Police & Fire Banquet Friday, February 27.
The banquet, which was interrupted by an emergency call for Engine Company
2 this year, 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 Engineer Kyle Howard was recognized for five years of service with the fire department. Pruss has been a member since April 2003. Five-Year Good Conduct - Engineers Perry Hopman and Paul Grove were presented with awards for five years of exemplary conduct in the performance of duty. Engineer Hopman joined the department in March 2003. Engineer Grove joined in January 2004. Volunteer Firefighter of the Year - Volunteer Captain Larry Pruss was named the 2008 Volunteer Firefighter of the Year. Pruss has been a member of the department since April 2001 and is responsible for producing all of the department's map books. Career Firefighter of the Year - Temporary Engineer Adam Cordell was named the 2008 Career Firefighter of the Year. Cordell, hired in July 2006, has been serving since late last year as Engine 2's engineer on C-Shift in the military-related absence of Engineer Hopman. Civilian Service Recognition - Chief Glenn recognized City of Maumelle Human Resources Director Vernon James with a Civilian Service Recognition award for his dedicated assistance to the fire department the unique needs of its members. |
 City of Maumelle Human Resources Director Vernon James is presented with a Civilian Service Award from Chief George Glenn. |
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| February 13, 2009: |
| MedFlight transports one from Maumelle Boulevard MVA |
| Two
companies of Maumelle firefighters responded to a report of an accident with
injuries at the intersection of Maumelle Boulevard and Commercial Park Drive
at approximately 1:32 pm Friday, February 13. Upon arrival, firefighters found two vehicles involved in a T-bone style accident with the occupant of one of the vehicles partially ejected. Metropolitan EMS (MEMS) requested MedFlight to respond and Maumelle volunteer firefighters were dispatched to establish a landing zone. The occupant of the other vehicle refused evaluation by MEMS. Firefighters extricated the patient using hydraulic rescue tools (Jaws of Life) and he was transported to Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock by MedFlight, where he eventually died from his injuries. In all, Engine 1, Engine 2, Chief 501, Truck 1 and two volunteer firefighters responded to the incident.  Baptist Health's MedFlight sits on Commercial Park Drive near the scene of a two-vehicle collision that required extrication by Maumelle firefighters. |
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| January 28, 2009: | ||
| Local magazine features fire chief in cover story | ||
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| January 20, 2009: |
| Crews
quickly extinguish Deauville chimney fire Fire ties up personnel; MFD unable to respond to EMS call |
| At
approximately 9:49 pm Tuesday, January 20, Maumelle firefighters were dispatched
for a chimney fire at 115 Deauville Drive in the Country Club of Arkansas
neighborhood. Upon their arrival, Engine Company 2 found fire showing on
the roof of the residence with burning debris potentially spreading fire
into the attic. The six career firefighters on duty made their initial attack using a 1.75" hose line, quickly extinguishing the body of the fire. Crews then went to work in the attic, using two pressurized water extinguishers to extinguish fire. Personnel overhauled the area, removing insulation, burned rafters as well as the severely burned sections of the chimney and interior flue pipe. While on scene, the fire department was dispatched to an EMS call at 100 Park Drive where a subject had been reportedly assaulted. However, firefighters were unable to respond because both engine companies and the three volunteers who responded to the scene were all committed to fireground operations. Metropolitan EMS responded to the medical and, according to dispatch records, transported the patient to a local hospital. |
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| January 12, 2009: |
| First fire of the year tries unsuccessfully to hide in a wall |
| Maumelle
firefighters were dispatched shortly after 8am Monday morning (January 12)
for a report of smoke coming from the walls of a Riverland residence. When
the five career firefighters staffing Engines 1 & 2 arrived on scene
at 21 Norfork Drive minutes later, their investigation revealed a fire inside
the wall of a bathroom. Firefighters were on scene for more than an hour as they had to pull away parts of the wall to fully extinguish the fire as well as remove smoldering cellulose insulation that continued to send smoke up the void spaces in the wall to the outside of the residence. Fire damage was limited to the master bathroom and a utility closet. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The initial response to this incident included five career firefighters staffing both Engine 1 and Engine 2, Chief 501 and Chief 502. Three volunteer firefighters responded to the scene including one who staffed Truck 1. At 8:45 a.m., three off-duty career firefighters were recalled to duty to provide coverage to the city but were eventually dispatched to the scene with Brush 1 and the Mobile Air Unit for manpower and to fill empty breathing air bottles. |
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