AWARDS

firefighter of the year

2024 ASFFA Firefighters of the Year

Joshua Stokes (Battalion Chief) | West Memphis Fire Department

Capt. Darryl Bell (Company 2) | West Memphis Fire Department

Lt. Christopher Bebout (Company 2) | West Memphis Fire Department

FF/EMT Allen Wear (Company 2) | West Memphis Fire Department

Capt. Richard Brown (Rescue 1) | West Memphis Fire Department

FF/EMT Dylan Johnston (Rescue 1) | West Memphis Fire Department

Paramedic Kayle Ray (Unit 14) | West Memphis Fire Department

FF/EMT Jackson Butrum (Unit 14) | West Memphis Fire Department

Excerpt from the Firefighter of the Year Nomination Letter

On February 11, 2024, West Memphis Fire Department’s A-shift responded to a technical rescue incident which resulted in the saving of life.

Crews were dispatched at 10:29 to Interstate 40 at the 276 mile marker for a reported single vehicle rollover accident. Crews  searched by vehicle between mile markers 275 and 280 with nothing found and proceeded to search by foot, finding a submerged minivan at mile 275.5 which was not visible from the roadway. Inside of the minivan was a male patient, submerged
to the level of his neck, and a canine. The patient was unable to remove himself from the vehicle because he suffered from paraplegia and was strapped into a mobility chair in the handicap-modified driver’s area. Crews provided a floatation device to help keep the victim’s head above water then removed the canine and transferred it to law enforcement care but were unable to remove the patient through the driver’s door. A steering column displacement maneuver was not successful in freeing the patient, so crews completed a partial roof removal while using the roof as a workspace. Following the roof removal, crews were able to finally cut the straps holding the patient in the mobility chair and used a Stoke’s basket and rope haul system to bring the patient out of the vehicle/water and to the roadside where care was transferred to EMS.

Without the crew’s persistence in checking the area by foot and their proficiency in auto extrication and rope rescue procedures in adverse conditions, it is my opinion that this patient would have been a fatality prior to being found.

kevin mcmasters rookie of the year

Alexander Eugene Heard

Forrest City Fire Department | 2023 Kevin McMasters Rookie of the Year

The profession of the fire service is Department has been lucky enough to continue this Heard family tradition with the youngest member of the family, Alexander Eugene Heard. FF Heard chose to develop his fire service career here at Forrest City Fire, where his grandfather, Gene, his father, Chip, and his uncle, Sam, all served faithfully. Even his big brother, Ashton, who is currently on the job with the Memphis Fire Department may aspire to one day join FCFD! B shift’s Engine 2 Captain Justin Sharp describes FF Heard as an exemplary young firefighter, co-worker, and person. He started his firefighting/EMS career by joining the Marion Fire Department and immediately going to the Arkansas Fire Training Academy in Camden, where he completed Emergency Medical Technician-Basic, Firefighter Standards school, and Driver/Operator in the top of his class. While still in Rookie School, he applied for a full-time firefighter position at Forrest City Fire and completed the FEATS and interview one weekend while home from Camden. When I asked him if he wanted to take a few days to relax after graduation before starting his new career, Alex said “Dad, said why wait and I am ready to start!” He finished his AFTA-Camden training on a Friday and began his fire service tour on Sunday, December 18, 2022. FF Heard is an intelligent and self-driven young man that represents the Gen Z era well. He has taken it upon himself to improve his knowledge and skills by attending numerous additional courses in his short career, including core rescue technician, basic, advanced, and school bus extrication, hazardous materials technician, etc.

From his co-worker’s point of view, FF Heard is always willing to help in whatever is at hand. If someone is doing a task, he is eager to step in and help to get the job done. He never complains about performing the daily chores or undesirable firehouse duties. FF Heard’s attitude is always cheerful and contagious to others that he works alongside. His level of knowledge in the beginning stages of his firefighting career is unmatched. He is continually looking for new ideas and techniques to make the job safer and more efficient. We are thankful to have FF Alexander Heard as a member of the Forrest City Fire Department and excited to watch him grow and continuously develop into the great firefighter that he was born to be.

For these reasons, and many others we have not listed, Captain Justin Sharp and I, respectfully, submit our Forrest City Fire Department Firefighter Alexander Heard for Rookie of the Year 2023.

– Shane R. Dallas, Fire Chief

hall of fame

2024 inductee: Gary Meadows

Arkansas Fire Academy

Good evening and thank you so much for allowing me a few minutes of your time tonight. I am here to honor a true legend among us. When I hear or say fire service leader this gentleman is who I am thinking of. He has been a friend, colleague, and most importantly the last several years a mentor. And for that I am very grateful.

My friend Gary Meadows told me two years ago as I was blessed to become the Deputy Director of the Fire Academy that he would give me two more years before he retired. And as he always has, he kept his word, although I was hoping he would forget this time.

I asked Gary for a brief autobiography of himself. After receiving his autobiography and reading through it, I quickly realized that I was not reading an autobiography, I was reading a legacy. Let me share a little bit of the Gary Meadows LEGACY with you.

Gary was Born in Kennett, Missouri, grew up in Pine Bluff Arkansas, and Graduated White Hall High School in 1981.

He completed his EMT class in 1981 and began working for Conway Regional Hospital, Emergency Response Team, and Ambulance Transport Service in Pine Bluff all while attending full-time at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.

Cabot Fire Department began paying their Fire Chief in January of 1984 and then hired Gary Meadows as Cabot’s first full time paid firefighter March 1, 1984.  Cabot ran EMS transport out of the firehouse for the first 10 years of his career. Gary retired from Cabot Fire Department in 2005 after promoting through the ranks and serving 10+ years as Chief of Department.

During his time at Cabot Fire Department, he helped start the Lonoke County Fire Chief’s Association, served on various board positions including President of Arkansas Chapter of International Association of Arson Investigators, President of Arkansas Association of Fire Chiefs, President of Arkansas Association of Firefighters Central District, as well as, began and served as a county wide Fire Investigator through the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office for over 20 years.

During the same time, he was an adjunct instructor for 10 years with the Arkansas Fire Training Academy. We then conned him into a full-time position for an additional 18 years with us here at the Arkansas Fire Training Academy.  He has served Ward Volunteer Fire Department as Training Officer and Fire Marshal.  He also co-owned and co-operated Allied Ambulance Service in Northern Lonoke County with his wife Linda during this time up until 2018.

Gary received the following awards throughout his career:

Cabot Firefighter of the year – 1989
Charles P. Butler Award for AFA Instructor of the year – 2006
Ward Citizen of the Year, 2011
Lifetime Achievement  Award of Arkansas Chapter of International Association of Arson
Investigators – 2024

WOW just WOW!!!

I do not know what else to say. As mentioned earlier Gary has held true to his word as will be retiring from the Arkansas Fire Training Academy at the end of this month. GARY just know that your legacy will forever be carried on through each and every student you have came into contact with here at the Arkansas Fire Academy. We thank you for your 28 total yrs of service to the academy. Everyone in this building wishes you and Ms. Linda the happiest of retirements. And wish you both well in any endeavors you choose to undertake.

We have a small token of our appreciation for Gary Meadows as you begin your official retirement July 1 st of this year.

Gary would you please make your way to the stage?

He was presented with a retirement shield while on campus a few weeks back while spearheading his last Fire Investigator class as a full-time employee. Well it needed a helmet to be presented on. And what better helmet than one signed by you all!!!

Gary thank you for your 43 years of service to the citizens of Arkansas. You are the true definition of a public servant. I thank you, the citizens of Arkansas thanks you, and THEY thank you!!!

2024 inductee: Bill Hellard

Arkansas Fire Academy

Bill Hellard’s fire service career spanned a 45-year period. His career started in the United States Air Force where he served as a firefighter during the Vietnam War and stateside with the Strategic Air Command. He went on to work for Smyrna, Ga and Scottsbluff, NE fire departments. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Eastern KY University.

After earning his degree, he took a position as an instructor with the Arkansas Fire Academy. He served as an instructor from 1984 until 2000. During that time, he served as a volunteer for the Camden Fire Department. In 2000, he left the academy to become Assistant Chief with the Wellington, KS fire department and began teaching for the Kansas State Fire Academy.

During his time at the Arkansas Fire Academy, Bill made a great impact on the Arkansas fire service. He served as an instructor for the National Registry of EMTs, National Fire Academy, and IFSAC site team member. Bill led the effort to bring IFSAC accreditation to the Academy. At the time, the Academy was one of only 20 entities in the world with this accreditation. This led to students from other states and countries seeking out education from the Arkansas Fire Academy. He helped develop the Fire and Emergency Response associate degree and the Arson Investigation course. Instructor Hellard’s passion was teaching rookie school. He and Instructor Nix developed a rookie school that gave firefighters the passion and knowledge needed to have successful careers in the fire service. 

Throughout his career, Bill promoted the fire service in Arkansas in many ways. He served as secretary/treasurer for the Firefighter Memorial Committee and supervised the completion of the memorial at the Academy. He received commendations for his assistance in responding to the West Helena Incident and McRae tornado cleanup. Gov. Mike Huckabee awarded him a commendation for his outstanding job as an instructor for the Fire Academy. Bill was awarded the Excellence Award for outstanding teaching from the National Institution for Staff and Organizational development.

Instructor Hellard has been instrumental in educating thousands of firefighters throughout the State. His “rookies” are now Chief Officers for many of the departments throughout the State. The lessons he taught and the dedication he brought to the job will continue to influence the fire service in Arkansas for years to come.

2024 inductee: Shane Dallas

Forrest City Fire Department

I am writing this nomination letter to nominate someone who has always been a leader in the fire service, not only at our local departments, but also with other firefighter associations. This man has always put in his best effort with anything he has done and has always committed himself to the fire service. This firefighter started his career at the Caldwell Fire Department in 1995 and eventually became Chief of this department. In 2003, he was hired by Forrest City Fire Department as a Part Paid Firefighter, in 2006 he was moved from a part paid to a full time firefighter, in 2015 he was promoted to Lieutenant, in 2018 he was promoted to Captain and the departments training officer, and in 2019 he was promoted to Fire Chief. During his time as Fire Chief, the Forrest City Fire Department made many improvements, some larger than others and some that to the general public may seem like small things, but to us in our department were large improvements. I’ll list a few of these out.

• In 2023 we received our first new fire truck since 2009.
• He replaced our ATV that was purchased over 20 years ago.
• He bought four drones and began a drone response team.
• He replaced all of the administrative and smaller response vehicles that were all nearing the 20-year mark.
• He replaced all of our SCBA on lead engines that were all nearing the 20-year mark.
• He acquired land for a future training facility.
• He restructured the ranks among the department and made all 3 shifts equally with staffing.
• He acquired funds to be able to supply each firefighter a second set of structural turnouts.
• He, in partnership with the Forrest City Junior Auxiliary, was able to purchase and install a safe haven baby box at Station 1.
• Placed iPads with Computer Aided Dispatch in all first out response vehicles.
• Moved the Forrest City Fire Department from an ISO classification 3 to an ISO classification 2.
• Incorporated a Knox Box ordinance for commercial structures in the city.
• Remodels at both stations.
• Lastly one of those “small” things, he got 3 new refrigerators, one for each shift so that we could stop fighting and arguing over food.

All of these things were done with a very small budget or with grants, bonds, or fund raisers. If there was ever a need, he always did his best to find a way to fulfill that need. Not only did he just do for our department, but if anyone or another department needed help, he would always attempt to help them in any way he could. During his time in the fire service, he held many different positions within many other organizations for  example, the Arkansas State Firefighters Association, Arkansas State Fire Chiefs Association, Arkansas Fire Services Protection Board, Arkansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial Board where he also served many years as chairman.

These are just to name a few I think this man is very deserving to be named into the Arkansas State Firefighters Hall of Fame, with that being said, I would like to nominate Forrest City Retired Fire Chief Shane Dallas to be inducted into the 2024 Arkansas State Firefighters Hall of Fame.

Forrest City Fire Department
Battalion Chief Zakk Jumper

hall of fame members

1999
Johnny Rickman | Jonesboro Fire Dept
Michael Hughes | Texarkana Fire Dept

1998
Harvey Jacks | Pine Bluff Fire Dept
James Hill | Forrest City Fire Dept

1997
Clay Whaley | Wynne Fire Dept
James Launius | Crossett Fire Dept

1996
Billy King | Blytheville Fire Dept
J.W. Cummings | Batesville Fire Dept
Joe Coker | Walnut Ridge Fire Dept

1995
Ray Jacks | Pine Bluff Fire Dept
| West Helena Fire Dept

1994
| Searcy FD
Fred Rorex | Jonesboro Fire Dept

1993
Jim Gates | Walnut Ridge Fire Dept

1992
Blanchard Cooley | New Port Fire Dept

1992
Billy R. Powell | LePanto Fire Dept

1991
Johnny Rice | Forrest City Fire Dept