Investigators say lightning is to blame for a house fire in Pulaski County as West Pulaski Fire Dept responded as mutual aid to a Crystal Fire Department structure fire around 10 p.m. in the 3000 block of Jack Mann Road, just east of the WPFD fire district.  The fire started during severe weather in which local meteorologists were estimating 100-200 lightning strikes per minute in the central Arkansas area.

Quick Facts about Arkansas Lightning:

• Arkansas is #5 on the The Weather Channel’s list of states with most lightning strikes  http://www.weather.com/safety/thunderstorms/top-5-lightning-prone-states-20120509?pageno=2
• 15.2 Strikes Per Square Mile
• 810,444 strikes per year with an average of 15.2 per square mile.
• No reported lightning fatalities in 2012.
• 123 fatalities from 1959-2011, which is the 11th most in the nation.
• Meteorological factors: Frontal systems during the spring, fall and winter can produce thunderstorms at times. Pop-up afternoon thunderstorms in the summer.

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Memorial Day is not about car sales, generic fireworks, festivals, or BBQ. It is a time to remember that our freedom is not free. Our country has paid and continues to pay the high price of freedom each time an American life is lost in war or peaceful times. This single day is intended to help honor those that have made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure our safety. Our soldiers that have lost their lives to protect OUR freedom must be honored and remembered with reverence. The families and loved ones of soldiers lost must also know how thankful and grateful we are for sacrifices made.  An extra day off of work should be enjoyed. However you plan to spend this day of rememberance, please take some time to reflect on the freedoms we all enjoy that have been paid for by the lost lives of our military heroes that cannot be with their loved ones on this day. Thank you. Be Safe.

West Pulaski Fire Department is a volunteer organization. We do accept and appreciate your tax deductible donations and contributions to our organization that help us acquire needed equipment and fund our programs.  We would like to remind you that our WPFD personnel, patient or persons/organizations pretending to be associated with our organization, check should NEVER be seeking cash donations/payments. While not a known issue at this time, some reports from a nearby volunteer department have caused concern as scam artists appear to be fraudulently soliciting donations on behalf of a supposed community fundraising effort.

Please remember that we appreciate your commitment and continued support to our volunteer fire and rescue organization. Any donation of products, services, or funds should always be made through a verifiable member of our organization. You must always feel free to ask for identification from anyone that represents, or claims to represent, our organization. If you are ever in doubt, please feel free to hold your contribution until you have met with or spoken to a  validated member of our organization. You should also feel free to send any payment or donation (bank check preferred) to our business office address.  We will also be happy to provide you a receipt for your payment or tax deductible donation to our 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Thank you for your support!

West Pulaski Fire Department

2810 Whispering Pines Road

Little Rock, Arkansas  72210    

wpfd@sbcglobal.net  

wpfdbusinessoffice@sbcglobal.net  

501-821-9320

May 4th (St Florian’s Day). May 4 is the feast day of St Florian, shop the patron saint of firefighters. St Florian was the first known commander of one firefighting squad in the Roman Empire. He lost his life, as well as those of his colleagues, for protecting the same humane ideas which firefighters all over the world share even today.

Firefighters dedicate their lives to the protection of life and property. Sometimes that dedication is in the form of countless hours volunteered over many years, in others it is many selfless years working in the industry. In all cases it risks the ultimate sacrifice of a firefighter’s life.

International Firefighters’ Day (IFFD) is a time where the world’s community can recognize and honor the sacrifices that firefighters make to ensure that their communities and environment are as safe as possible. It is also a day in which current and past firefighters can be thanked for their contributions.

International Firefighters’ Day is observed each year on 4th May. On this date you are invited to remember the past firefighters who have died while serving our community or dedicated their lives to protecting the safety of us all. At the same time, we can show our support and appreciation to the firefighters world wide who continue to protect us so well throughout the year.

By proudly wearing and displaying blue and red ribbons pinned together or by participating in a memorial or recognition event, we can show our gratitude to firefighters everywhere.

The IFFD ribbons are linked to colours symbolic of the main elements firefighters work with – red for fire and blue for water. These colours also are internationally recognized as representing emergency service.

Firefighters in most European countries celebrate their day on 4th of May as a ‘Day of Fire Service’ as well as St Florian’s Day. This date is also known as St Florian’s Day worldwide and has been tradition for more than 150 years in Europe.

In this day, we ask you to :

• find your own way to show your support for all firefighters worldwide;
• recognize the level of commitment and dedication it takes to be ready, and willing, to serve in the face of dangerous conditions;
• remember those lost or injured in the line of duty;

 May 5th : Sound Off

On the first Sunday in May at noon please Sound Off in respect of past firefighters.

A special time to stop and reflect on the sacrifices made by firefighters is held on the first Sunday in May at noon local time each year when fire sirens sound for 30 seconds followed by a minute’s silence in memory of, and respect for, all firefighters who have been lost in the line of duty or passed on before us. This is known as the “Sound Off“.

Source: http://www.firefightersday.org/

Remembering all of the first responders (fire, police, ems) that served and made the ultimate sacrifice to be there when the call for help goes out. Our prayers go out to West Fire Department and all those affected by the devastating explosion in West, Texas.