Around 4:30, Friday, a 4th woods fire was reported in southern Drew County, this one on HWY 172.

The Arkansas Forestry Commission responded with 2 fire plows.  Local fire depts. responding included Lacey-Ladelle, Greenhill, and Valley.  The fire was contained within a couple of hours, and damage was limited to approximately 3-4 acres.

Lightning caused a fire on HWY 133, Sunday.  There were two fires near Lacey-New Hope Road, Thursday, one burning 75 acres.  The cause of Friday’s fire is unknow, but Sheriff Mark Gober commented, “this one wasn’t started by lightning.”

Our appreciation goes out to all of the firefighters who go out into the heat and smoke, to protect the property and lives of the residents of Drew County.

Thank You.

A burn ban has been issued by Drew County Judge Damom Lampkin, covering all of Drew County.

The recent hot and dry spell has greatly increased the probablity of fires getting out of control.

Around 6 pm, following a good thunderstorm in the area, a woods fire was reported near HWY 133, south of Lacey.

Lacey-Ladelle and Valley Fire Depts. responded with trucks and firefighters, and extinguished the blaze, estimated to be around one acre, which is believed to have started by a lightning strike to a White Oak.

According to Mayor Allen Maxwell, he received a letter, Monday, confirming the city’s effort to acheive a better ISO rating has been a success.

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An East Shelton St residence was destroyed by fire, just before 7 pm, Sunday eventing.

The fire is believed to have started from a charcoal b-b-q- grill on the front porch.

The family was home at the time of the fire, and sources tole MLive that the man heard something “banging around” on the porch.  When he opened the door, the fire was blazing, across the porch, and right at the front door.

MFD and MPD responded. but the blaze had already entered the bottom of the trailer structure.

Around 8:15, this morning, the Monticello Fire Dept. responded to the report of a fire on the yard of the recycling center, on East Jackson Street, at the old Burlington mill.

The blaze seems to have been limited to a storage area on the old parking lot.

The Barkada Community Volunteer Fire Dept. hosted an ice cream social, Saturday, along with desserts, and tours of the fire station.

An update on the status of the Barkada Fire Dept. was appreciated by the approximately 40 in attendance, and board members and guests were introduced.

A few political comments closed out the evening, which seemed to be enjoyed by all.

The local veteran’s organizations, as part of their annual Memorial Day program, recognized 4 local first responders for the service to Monticello and Drew County.

Officer of the Year awards were presented to Billy Barnett of the Monticello Fire Dept.,  Matt Outlaw of the Arkansas State Police, and Danny Chisom of the Monticello Police Dept.  Ben Michel of the Drew County Sheriff’s office was also honored, Ben’s plaque was accepted by Chief Deputy Robin Hood.

Friday afternoon around 5 o’clock the Monticello Fire Dept. responded to Turtle Creek Apartments on N. Slemmons St. to the report  of an apt. fire on the bottom level.

The blaze seems to have been started by something on the stove, and fire damage was confimed to the kitchen area.

A 28-year-old Dermott resident has been arrested for the arson fire at Dermott’s Fred’s discount store.  Twelve area fire departments battled the blaze for two days last weekend during the annual Dermott Crawfish Festival.

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The City Council voted unanimously to allow Mayor Allen Maxwell to begin advertising for bids for the fire station to be built at the W.C. Whaley lot.

The Council also voted to combine CD’s and budgeted items that have not, or will not be used this year, in order to fund the deficit in the Sadie Johnson Building Fund.

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The Monticello Fire Department held a training exercise for extinguishing LP gas fires at the Drew County Fairgrounds, Saturday.

Southern LP Gas Company donated 400 gallons of gas to be burned in the exercise.

At least 5 area fire departments took part in the training session, which practiced extinguishing propane fires on tanks and piping fixtures.

A 59 year old Winchester man died around noon, Thursday, during a house fire at his residence on Old Highway 65.

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In a shocking turn of events, the City Council voted yes to building a new fire station on the W.C. Whaley lot. During Thursday night’s meeting Mayor Allen Maxwell asked MEDC Executive Director Nita McDaniel to present the slide show to the Council that was shown to the public during the ISO Rating Meeting (posted below).

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Around 12:30 Sunday afternoon, the Monticello Fire Dept. responded to the report to a mobile home fire in the Koala Bear Trailer Park on Scott Street.

The resident of the trailer, Eric Burton Bell, attempted to get close to or enter the burning structure while firefighters were still battling the blaze and was arrested by MPD.  Bell was charged with Disorderly Conduct, Obstructing Governmental Operations, Possession of Controlled Substance, and Resisting Arrest.

The cause of the fire was undetermined, but it appears that most of the damage was done in the living room / kitchen area of the trailer.

Another local resident was arrested after she set her own trailer on fire, and assaulted a family member, earlier this month.

A Monticello woman was arrested Friday, around noon, after MPD responded to a call reporting that she had attacked a local beautician.  The woman was charged with battery, and bonded out of jail, upon being taken to the County Detention Facility.

But that wasn’t the only time she was arrested, that day.

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Monticello Fire Dept., along with 3 other fires, Sunday, were called to the site of a fire at Curry’s Pest Control, on N. Hyatt Street.

The building, along with the 3 pick-up trucks inside received major damage.  One of the truck was backed out of the building, after the fire was brought under control.

A strong chemical smell could be detected for several hundred yards away from the burning structure.

A possible cause of the fire, currently being considered, is a nearby brush/leaf fire.

Top photo courtesy of Robert Crawford.

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A 74 year old Monticello man lost his life Monday morning, during a house fire at his home on HWY 425 North.

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A fire was reported at the Sadie Johnson Community Center in Jordan Park around 5 o’clock Saturday afternoon.

The Monticello Fire Dept. responded, but flames had already burned through the north rear wall and roof of the building when they arrived. (more…)

Around 3 pm, Friday afternoon, a grass fire in a field at the end of Old Troy Road crossed into a nearby forest, and started a major forest fire, southeast of Monticello.  The fire, according to Sheriff Mark Gober, was likely started by a downed power line.

An early estimate from someone at the scene indicates that around 200 acres of timberland were destroyed.

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Around 2:30, Saturday afternoon, a forest fire was reported in the southern part of Drew County.

For several hours, the fire was moving north on two separate fronts, and south, with another fire wall, centered around Gates/Mainline Road, between the south section of Midway Route and Collins Line Road, about 15-20 miles from Monticello.

Local fire departments were standing by area deer camps and watch for road crossings, while 2 planes were dropping water, another plane guiding the firefighters, and 9 fire-plows were also working to extinguish the blazes.

Around 7:30, Saturday night,  it was estimated the the fire was 50% contained, and that the planes and plows would be able to contain and control the remaining fire; and at 9 pm Arkansas Forestry Commission crews reported that the fire had been contained. (more…)

Monticello Firefighters Spent 6 hours Battling "Old Bradley Mill" Fire in Warren, Saturday Night. Photo by David Forrest, of the Guesthouse.

On a day when emergency personnel are recognized across the nation, our local fire dept, police officers, sheriff’s deputies, state troopers, and both ambulance services were busy proving how important they are to our community.

Here’s a portion of their day…….

Before midnight Friday, Monticello Fire & Rescue was paged out to a single car wreck on HWY 293 near Selma, where an Oldsmobile’s 3 passengers needed them.  Arkansas State Troopers worked the wreck, assisted by Drew County Sheriff’s Deputies.  SEEMS transported the 3 victims to Drew Memorial.  Although it turns out that Fire & Rescue weren’t needed, the caller who reported the crash believed the 3 victims were pinned inside the vehicle.

Prior to this Arkansas State Troopers had made 3 DWI arrests late in the evening, protecting Drew County drivers.

4 am Car Crash on Barkada Road, Saturday.

Around 4am, Saturday morning, a Chrysler 300 crashed into a tree, 4 miles out, on Barkada Road.  The person who called this in reported that the driver was still inside the car, and it looked like the car was on fire.  Fire & Rescue were called out to save the crash victim.  When Drew County Deputies arrived on the scene, with Fire & Rescue right behind them, it was discovered that the “possible fire” was “air bag dust”, but at 4 in the morning, the caller couldn’t tell.  MASI transported the driver to DMH.  Triple A towed the vehicle.

First Responders Recognized by Local Veterans at Flag Dedication Ceremony at 1st Baptist Church

Several of our emergency personnel were recognized for their dedication and service, during a flag and flagpole dedication at First Baptist Church at 10 o’clock, by our local veteran’s organizations and Woodmen of the World.

House Fire at Dead Man's Curve, Saturday, 12:45.

Many of them attended a Community Prayer Rally at the Drew County Courthouse at noon, but were called out to a double-wide mobile home at 12:45, which was called in “the cars are there, but no one is standing outside.”  The photo shows how engulfed the structure was when it was called in.  Firefighters battled the blaze for 4 hours, hauling water from Carpenter Road, 1.5 miles away, until the fire was out.  Also worth noting, SEEMS came to the scene, “just in case” there would’ve been someone inside who needed medical care, and also, Sheriff Gober, an off-duty auxiliary deputy, and an area constable were at the fire, in case they were needed.

SEEMS Displayed a U. S. Flag on their Ambulance, in Honor of 9/11, Saturday

After getting the trucks ready for their next call, whatever it may be, and a very late lunch (at around 4:30), they got to sit down for the first time all day.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of the day for the Monticello Fire Dept.  The “Old Bradley Mill” in Warren caught on fire around 11 pm, Saturday night, and they were called to assist Warren’s Fire Dept.  Monticello’s firefighters arrived back at the fire-station 6 hours later.

Throughout the day, our Monticello Police and Drew County Sheriff’s Deputies answered calls of all types, around the clock.  SEEMS and MASI were on duty, providing their services, as always, at a moments notice.   The emergency room staff at Drew Memorial were ready and waiting, for whatever illness or injury came through the door next.

There wasn’t a minute of the day that there wasn’t a dispatcher standing by take you call, in case of emergency at MPD, ready to send whichever of these dedicated public workers your way, in your time of need.

As we look back on 9/11/2001, we should also recognize that same dedication that our Drew County emergency personel serve us with.

A fire at Warren’s “Old Bradley” Mill last night, apparently destroyed a large portion of the facility, and led to fire departments from around the area to be called out to assist.

The Monticello Fire Dept. responded to the blaze, and assisted throughout the night, and returned to Monticello around 5 am, this morning.

No details are available at this time, but Warren Fire Dept. is still on the scene, putting out blazes and hot-spots.

A local family seems to have lost everything, due to a Saturday afternoon fire that destroyed their home on HWY 278 East, near the road construction area around Dead Man’s Curve.

No one was home when the fire began, and flames were rising high into the air, before a passing driver saw the fire.

The Monticello Fire Dept. responded, and battled the blaze, while hauling water to the scene from a hydrant near Carpenter Road.

Princess, the family’s dog, died during the fire.