The North Little Rock Fire Department consists of four main divisions:
Administration | Fire Marshal’s Office | Public Information Office | Battalion Chiefs
ADMINISTRATION
Fire Chief – Chief Gerald Tucker
723 N. Maple St.
North Little Rock, AR 72114
Phone: (501) 340-5385
Fax: (501) 340-5391
Email: nlrfd@nlr.ar.gov
Chief Tucker was hired by the NLR Fire Department on March 21, 1990. He has been both a paid and volunteer firefighter. He served as the Fire Department’s Training Captain for 16 years before being promoted to Assistant Chief in 2016. He was chosen by Mayor Joe Smith to lead the department in 2017.
Assistant Chief Rick Albers– (501) 340-5383
Chief Albers was hired in 1990 and moved up through the ranks promoting to Battalion Chief in March of 2018 and then to Assistant Chief in September of 2022. He is a Special Operations Team Member and a multi-disciplined Rescue Technician in the following specialties: Rope, Trench, Confined Space, Structural Collapse and Swift Water. He is also an EMT and a certified Fire Instructor. Chief Albers is a US Air Force Veteran, serving four years as a Titan II Launch Crew Member.
Training Captain – Captain Jon Miller – (501) 340-5386
Jon Miller began his career as a Firefighter September 22, 1997. He has been a Paramedic since October 2000. He promoted to Lieutenant June 1, 2006 and then later promoted to Captain July 1, 2015. Captain Miller became the Training Captain May 28, 2022.
He also is a Hazardous Materials Technician and Special Operations Rescue Technician specializing in high angle rescue, confined space rescue, trench rescue and structural collapse rescue.
He serves on the Task Force 1 Central Arkansas Urban Search and Rescue Team and he holds a Fire Science Degree. He is now a Paramedic/EMT and fire Instructor.
Staff Captain – Captain Ricky Cranford, (501) 340-5410
Captain Ricky Cranford was hired April 3, 1996. After serving as a firefighter and Lieutenant throughout the years, he was promoted to Administrative Staff Captain in 2015. He is the Department Recruiter, Hazmat Coordinator, GIS Coordinator, maintains the department’s computer programs and department needs. Captain Cranford is also the Fire Department’s liaison to the NLR Communication Center.
Executive Secretary – Cindy Yancey, (501) 340-5378
Cindy has been with the NLRFD since November 1998. She serves as both the Fire Chief’s assistant and the HR, payroll contact for NLRFD personnel and manages all accounts payables.
Office Assistant – Sandra West
Sandra joined the NLRFD in July of 2021. She assists the staff with daily maintenance records, department inventory, and medical supply inventory for all of the fire stations. Sandra also assists the staff with various tasks such as fire incident reporting, inspection reporting and other associated clerical duties. Sandra greets all visitors to Central Fire Station, directs calls and provides information to the citizens and community of North Little Rock. Sandra has a Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information Systems from UALR.
FIRE MARSHAL’S OFFICE
Location: 3417 Magnolia Street
Phone: 501-340-5370
Email: fmo@nlr.ar.gov
Fax: (501) 812-5944
The Fire Marshal’s Office (FMO) is responsible for coordinating fire prevention programs and public education. This includes presenting fire safety presentations, fire extinguisher training, and children’s fire safety outreach. It conducts investigations to determine origin and cause of fires. It investigates arson and pursues criminal prosecution in conjunction with the NLR Detective’s Office. The FMO represents the Fire Department at Planning Commission and Development Review Committee meetings. It is responsible for review of construction, alarm and sprinkler plans. It conducts on-site inspections to ensure fire code compliance for new construction, remodels, sprinkler systems, alarm systems and kitchen suppression systems.
Fire Marshal – Chief Brent Almon, (501) 812-5940
Chief Almon has been with the North Little Rock Fire Department since May 12, 1994. He is a certified Fire Investigator and life safety code inspector. His primary responsibilities are building plan review, issuing permits, maintenance of property and inspection records.
Assistant Fire Marshal – Captain Dustin Free, (501) 812-5941
Captain Free came to work for the North Little Rock Fire Department on February 19, 1999. He is a certified Fire Investigator and life safety code inspector. He is a Public Information Officer for the Fire Department. He is on the board of the Arkansas Fire Marshal’s Association. He is the Chief Fire Marshal for the East End Volunteer Fire Department. His primary responsibilities are on-site inspections to ensure fire code compliance for new construction, remodels, sprinkler systems, alarm systems and kitchen suppression systems.
Deputy Fire Marshal – Lieutenant Daniel Bryson (501) 812-5942
Lt. Bryson joined the North Little Rock Fire Department on 04-15-1999. He is a certified Fire Investigator and life safety code inspector. Lt. Bryson is also an EMT. His primary responsibilities are food truck inspections, daycare inspections, school inspections, fire safety surveys and public education.
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
Captain Dustin Free serve as NLRFD’s Public Information Officers (PIO). They are responsible for disseminating information to the public and the media.
Capt. Dustin Free (501) 680-2624 or email dfree@nlr.ar.gov
BATTALION CHIEFS
Six Battalion Chiefs command their respective crews. Each shift consists of 11 stations and 14 units. Battalion Chiefs direct and supervise the fire fighting force, including emergency incidents involving structure fires, hazardous materials response, river incidents, vehicle accidents, emergency medical response and lifesaving rescue work. Each Battalion Chief brings with them many years of emergency and management experience.
A Crew Battalion Chief – Alfred Cerrato
Chief Cerrato was hired in 1980. He has an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science and is a certified Emergency Medical Technician. Chief Cerrato has been a Battalion Chief since 2006.
A Crew Battalion Chief – Mark Shoemaker
Chief Mark E. Shoemaker began his career with the North Little Rock Fire Department in 1997. Chief Shoemaker was promoted to Battalion Chief in March of 2022. He is the city’s first Paramedic Battalion Chief. He has certifications for Chief Fire Officer, Public Information Officer as well as an IFSAC certified Incident Safety Officer. He is a certified Fire Inspector and Investigator. He has been the recipient of the Carnahan Wilhite Award for his work in Public Fire Safety and Education. He is a Special Operations Team Member and a multi-disciplined Rescue Technician and Haz Mat Technician. He is a Nationally Certified Paramedic, ACLS and CPR Instructor and is an IFSAC certified Fire Instructor.
B Crew Battalion Chief – Phil Pounders
Chief Pounders began his Fire Department career in 1985. He was promoted to Battalion Chief in 2009. He has certifications for Chief Fire Officer, Public Information Officer, Safety Officer, EMT, and Hazmat Tech. He is also a Type 3 Safety Officer with the Arkansas All-Hazard Incident Management Team. Chief Pounders developed the Fire Department’s Citizen’s Fire Academy – the first in the State. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ouachita Baptist University in Business Administration and in Economics.
B Crew Battalion Chief – Wesley Stephens
Chief Stephens was hired in 2002 and was promoted to Battalion Chief in 2022. Chief Stephens was a member and chairman of the departments Minimum Standards and Training Committee for 17 years. He is a certified Incident Safety officer as well as a certified Fire Investigator. He is a certified instructor with the Arkansas Fire academy where he teaches Rescue Technician classes throughout the state. He is a certified Rescue Specialist in Rope, Water, Confined Space, Trench, Structural Collapse, and Vehicle & Machinery. Chief Stephens also is a Task Force Leader with the States Urban Search and Rescue team Arkansas Task Force 1. He serves as a team leader on the Blue Team which is responsible for water rescue deployments through the state and in bordering states for hurricane and flood response. He is also a founding member of the Arkansas HSART which is a specialized rescue team consisting of members from the Arkansas Army National Guard and AR-TF1 that specializes in aquatic and wilderness rescue from helicopters. Chief Stephens also maintains a seat on the Arkansas Senate subcommittee for Search and Rescue and is a regular speaker and instructor at the annual Arkansas Fire Convention.
C Crew Battalion Chief – Heath Hoops
Chief Heath Hoops is a graduate of Catholic High in Little Rock and was hired in April of 1997. He is a Special Operations Team Member and a multi-disciplined Rescue Technician; Rope Rescue, Trench Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, Structural Collapse Rescue and Swift Water Rescue. He is also a member of Arkansas Task Force 1, USAR Team, and an Emergency Medical Technician. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 2005, Captain in 2012, and Battalion Chief in 2022.
C Crew Battalion Chief – Jeff Bennett
Chief Bennett started his career in 1997. He was promoted to Battalion Chief in 2022. He is a Hazardous Material Technician, and a member of the Special Operation team with Core, High Angle Rope Rescue. Structural Collapse, Confined Space, and Trench Rescue Certifications. He is a member of the Central Arkansas Task Force USAR team and is EMT Certified.