In the News

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The sound of mother nature can be hard to hear at busy Fire Station 8. The sound of emergency tones and sirens can be heard from outside.

"It's been abnormally dry here lately," says North Little Rock Fire Battalion Chief Phil Pounders. 

With more than three decades of experience, Pounders knows mother nature can have a mind of its own.

"They can quickly lead to structure fires," he says.

Thanks to dry conditions, North Little Rock Firefighters battled a grass fire Sunday afternoon along Highway 70 near Central Airport Road.

"We have several areas within the city limits that are just undeveloped. Burns Park is one of those areas," says Pounders.

To battle the blaze, brand new fire suits.

"It's lighter, we can last longer, we can do a better job out there and we're still doing it in a safe manner," says Pounders.

The gear comes from a grant worth $148,000.

"When we have this type of equipment, it's cooler for us, it's still hot but it's cooler for us, we can stay hydrated as we move about in these areas," says Pounders.

The suits are specifically designed to battle wildfires. Firefighters will continue to wear the traditional gear to battle structure fires.

As crews wait for the next call, they know mother nature is in charge so anything is possible.

"The City of North Little Rock is not immune from that," says Pounders.

The North Little Rock Fire Department received the special wildfire suits at the beginning of summer. They cost $1,000 each.

Pounders says Congressman French Hill and North Little Rock city leaders were involved in the process of getting that grant.