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ABOUT THE NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR FIRE DEPARTMENT
The North Little Rock Fire Department was established in 1904 with four firefighters, a borrowed hose wagon and
a borrowed team of horses.
North Little Rock
was known as Argenta during that period of time. The Argenta F. D. soon
had
eight firefighters, two teams of horses and two
hose wagons that were owned by the city.
This
was
the arrangement
until 1917. In 1917 the first motorized pumper arrived.
Argenta became North Little Rock in 1917.
The North Little Rock
Fire Department has grown incredibly from its early
days. The North Little Rock Fire Department switched to a two-platoon system in 1921. Up until that time, firefighters
had only one day a week off! In 1925, two additional fire stations were opened. This gave the N.L.R.F.D. three fire
stations at this point.
More stations were opened through the years until the present eleven fire stations were serving the
city. In 1969, a three-
platoon system was put in operation, so that firefighters worked 24 hours, and then were off duty
for 48 hours.
The present eleven stations house the following apparatus: (1) Ten
engine companies, (2)Two ladder companies,
a 107'
aerial ladder company with a 2000 GPM Pump, and a
100' aerial platform/ quint with a
2000 GPM pump,
(3) Two heavy
rescues:
A heavy rescue
complete
with
cascade
system
and a heavy rescue/pumper with a
1250 GPM Pump, 500
gallons of water, and hose, as well as all needed rescue equipment,
(4) A haz-mat unit,
(5) A trench rescue unit,
(6) A
brush
truck with 500 gallons of water and pump and roll capabilities, (7)
A large
Fireboat/ Rescue Boat
moored at the
Arkansas
River, and a Rescue Boat stationed at Station 4,
(8)
Standby Pumpers, (9) and a Standby Heavy Rescue/
Pumper, and (10)
A Mobile Command Unit.
The NLRFD proudly
displays
an ISO Rating of "ONE."
North Little Rock is one of very few cities on Arkansas to have a
CLASS 1 RATING.
The Department also includes a Fire Marshal's Office, which includes the Inspection Bureau. The NLRFD
Training Division
includes
regularly scheduled classes taught by training officers. Excellent classrooms for training
exercises are
housed
at 24th
and Willow Streets. The Training Tower on Remount Road is an excellent facility for "hands on"
training and testing.
The NLRFD also has an outstanding maintenance and repair program for all apparatus.
A full time maintenance officer is
employed.
Most all repairs can be carried out in-house.