LRFD Calls Quadruple in Week After Christmas Storm
By: Josh Berry
Updated: January 1, 2013
The Little Rock Fire Department (LRFD) has responded to a record numbers of calls in just one week.
They say the Christmas Day snow storm just compounded a normally busy holiday season.
These are numbers some of them have never seen before.
Engine 8 hasn't gotten much rest this week. Since Christmas, LRFD has responded to 858 calls including power outages and fires. That's more than quadruple their average on most weeks.
"It's been a nightmare for us," said Capt. Randy Hickmon. "We had fire trucks that were stuck in a ditch, slid off the road."
Hickmon admits icy and wet conditions made it no easier on crews.
The calls varied. Accidental fires jumped the second day after power was out. The fire department saw 8 house fires in just one day.
Hickmon explained, "We were surprised to see the amount of chimney fires that we had."
These numbers did create problems for the department.
"Any time that you spread that many runs over a five day period... it puts a strain on the system."
It caused issues like keeping trucks fueled that were docked in stations that didn't have power.
"We will plan probably a little better for diesel deliver to those fire stations," said Hickmon on the aftermath of this storm.
The City of Little Rock does have an emergency fund for situations like this, saying tax payers should not be concerned.
When Engine 8, along with the rest of the crews, does have a chance to rest LRFD says they have more time to evaluate the areas they say they could improve on.
Hickmon added, "It makes you think every time you have one of these what you can do better."
They still insist they're fully prepared for any event like this and say they managed it well considering.
To prevent some of the common mistakes that led to the increase in calls, LRFD says in addition to using common sense, just don't bring anything inside that wasn't intended for to heat indoors. Also make sure you keep your chimney's clean and have experts come by and check out your heating sources.
They say the Christmas Day snow storm just compounded a normally busy holiday season.
These are numbers some of them have never seen before.
Engine 8 hasn't gotten much rest this week. Since Christmas, LRFD has responded to 858 calls including power outages and fires. That's more than quadruple their average on most weeks.
"It's been a nightmare for us," said Capt. Randy Hickmon. "We had fire trucks that were stuck in a ditch, slid off the road."
Hickmon admits icy and wet conditions made it no easier on crews.
The calls varied. Accidental fires jumped the second day after power was out. The fire department saw 8 house fires in just one day.
Hickmon explained, "We were surprised to see the amount of chimney fires that we had."
These numbers did create problems for the department.
"Any time that you spread that many runs over a five day period... it puts a strain on the system."
It caused issues like keeping trucks fueled that were docked in stations that didn't have power.
"We will plan probably a little better for diesel deliver to those fire stations," said Hickmon on the aftermath of this storm.
The City of Little Rock does have an emergency fund for situations like this, saying tax payers should not be concerned.
When Engine 8, along with the rest of the crews, does have a chance to rest LRFD says they have more time to evaluate the areas they say they could improve on.
Hickmon added, "It makes you think every time you have one of these what you can do better."
They still insist they're fully prepared for any event like this and say they managed it well considering.
To prevent some of the common mistakes that led to the increase in calls, LRFD says in addition to using common sense, just don't bring anything inside that wasn't intended for to heat indoors. Also make sure you keep your chimney's clean and have experts come by and check out your heating sources.
