by - November 10, 2025 3:53 pm
New Fort Smith fire chief named
Darrell Clark has been promoted to fire chief of the Fort Smith Fire Department, according to a city of Fort Smith press release. Clark, the former assistant fire chief, succeeds…
Tag: Fort Smith Fire Department
by - June 3, 2024 11:37 am
Gear safety, more captains part of Fort Smith Fire Department focus
The Fort Smith Fire Department succeeded in meeting its primary objectives in 2023 which including maintaining a healthy and strong workforce, ensuring thorough training, and being fully prepared to respond…
by - February 11, 2023 10:31 am
Fort Smith fire chief dies after battle with cancer
Fort Smith Fire Department Chief Phil Christensen has died after a nine-month battle with cancer. He was 54. Christensen, who worked with the fire department since 1992, was named chief…
by - May 26, 2021 4:39 pm
Emergency calls to Fort Smith Fire Department decline during COVID pandemic
The Fort Smith Fire Department, like most everyone else, was faced with a set of unique challenges as the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world in 2020. One of the most…
by - May 23, 2018 5:17 pm
Fort Smith Fire Department achieves lowest dollar loss from fire damages since 2014
The Fort Smith Fire Department experienced its best year since 2014 for the number of fires and total fire dollar loss in relation to property values, according to its 2017…
by - March 30, 2018 9:57 am
Interviews consolidated for Fort Smith Fire Department; minority hiring remains an issue
The Fort Smith Civil Service Commission on Thursday (March 29) voted 3-2 to approve changes to the interview process for new firefighters. Commissioners Marty Shell, Orval Smith, and John Walker…
by - July 14, 2016 4:27 pm
Christensen named Fort Smith Fire Chief, leaving three top city slots to be filled
Philip Christensen is the new Fort Smith Fire Chief, filling a position that has been vacant since October 2015 when longtime Chief Mike Richards resigned in the middle of a…
by - June 27, 2016 3:58 pm
Interviews underway for Fort Smith fire chief, six finalists on the list
Fort Smith City Administrator Carl Geffken and Deputy City Administrator Jeff Dingman are part of the panel interviewing candidates for the open Fort Smith Fire Chief position. Interviews began on…
by - December 10, 2015 6:03 pm
Minority hiring also an issue at the Fort Smith Fire Department
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Perhaps no one knows the literal implications of this saying better than a firefighter, but Fort Smith residents questioning the city’s lack of diversity could…
by - September 2, 2015 9:33 pm
Fort Smith Fire Chief to step down Oct. 30, focus on family
Fort Smith Fire Chief Mike Richards said his decision to retire Oct. 30 is “strictly personal” and “absolutely has nothing to do” with what has been a tough budgeting process…
by - August 26, 2015 2:28 pm
Questions, concerns raised about Fort Smith fire services contracts
Zero Mountain CEO Mark Rumsey is frustrated and concerned about what the city of Fort Smith doesn’t know about a $1,000 a month fire services contract the company has paid…
by - August 21, 2014 11:57 am
New Fort Smith, Van Buren fire station per square foot costs nearly equal
Two fire stations built and paid for using sales tax proceeds in Fort Smith and Van Buren came in at nearly the same price per square feet, with the Fort…
by - June 25, 2014 5:46 pm
Fort Smith Fire Department awarded nearly $700,000 federal grant
The Fort Smith Fire Department was awarded a grant Wednesday (June 25) that will allow it to purchase breathing apparatuses and face masks. The grant was announced by U.S. Sens….
by - December 26, 2012 1:48 pm
Fort Smith Fire Chief notes donation of money, time
Fort Smith Fire Department Chief Mike Richards said Fort Smith firefighters have given more than $394,000 back to the community since 2007, with that total not including the value of…
by - December 19, 2012 4:11 pm
Personnel changes set for Fort Smith Fire Department
The Fort Smith Fire Department will host three special ceremonies over the next few days, and the public is invited to attend. The first event will be a promotion ceremony…
by - July 27, 2012 12:23 pm
Sales tax to fund Fort Smith firefighter jobs after grant expires
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently awarded the Fort Smith Fire Department $987,309 to fund nine new firefighter positions, allowing the department to “increase staffing on aerial firefighter apparatus…