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Fort Smith Fire Department reports 96% property saved rate, notes equipment and training investments
Summary
Fire Chief Boyd Waters told the Board of Directors the Fort Smith Fire Department responded to 15,772 incidents in 2024, saved an estimated 96% of involved property values and completed facility and training upgrades; no board action was taken.
Fire Chief Boyd Waters presented the Fort Smith Fire Department—s 2024 annual report to the Board of Directors on May 20, giving incident totals and describing recent investments in facilities, equipment and training.
Waters said the department responded to 15,772 incidents in 2024, including 136 building fires and 69 vehicle fires. He estimated the total value of property involved at about $104 million and reported property loss from fires at about $4 million, representing roughly 96% of property saved during responses.
The chief outlined personnel changes, promotions and training. Waters said the department promoted multiple staff members to battalion chief, captain and driver ranks and added seven new hires in 2024. New firefighters complete a two-week induction program "fire attack," followed by 10 weeks of fire-academy training and six weeks of EMT training.
Waters described infrastructure work including replacement of a 30-year-old boiler and cooling tower at headquarters, LED lighting upgrades, and work to complete a significant firing range at the city landfill. He said 19 new vehicles were purchased and that refurbished pumpers will delay replacement costs. He also described a newly acquired mid-mount 100-foot tower (Ladder 3) assigned to Station 3 that was placed in service in 2024.
The department opened a six-bay maintenance facility purchased in December 2023, which Waters said has allowed more repairs in-house, parts storage and improved fleet availability. He said that facility also gave the fire marshals improved office and plan-review capabilities.
Waters said the department continues to pursue training improvements and noted plans for additional training props and a reinforced concrete pad for hose testing and driver training. He said the department remains active in community events including station tours, safety talks and "touch-a-truck" events.
Directors thanked the chief and staff and asked questions about apparatus replacement funding, the training tower and the status of planned Tahoe medical response units. Waters said the Tahoe replacements were cut in a prior budget round and that a total apparatus replacement sinking fund remains under pressure; he said refurbishment has postponed the need for full replacements but is not a permanent solution.
The presentation concluded with the board expressing support and no formal board action taken.
