Structure fires were not up significantly in Pine Bluff in December, contrary to the usual trend during the winter months.
“Our numbers for December were quite pleasing, actually,” said Lt. Harold Clark, spokesman for the Pine Bluff Fire and Emergency Services Department. “We had 17 structure fires for the month. Usually this time of year, our numbers do peak in structure fires, but actually we had 18 structure fies in November.”
Monthly reports for the Fire Department and other departments were given at the Jan. 3 Pine Bluff City Council Public Safety Committee meeting.
Clark noted that the date marked the two-year anniversary of Lt. David Curlin’s on-the-job injury while fighting a fire in downtown Pine Bluff. Curlin later died of his injuries in May 2010.
Clark said the department marked the anniversary of Curlin’s injury with a moment of silence. A memorial service will be held in May.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Also, Clark recognized Capt. Mike Davis and his crew — firefighters John Buchan, Joe Kisel, Larry Murray and Engineer Micheal Burnett — for coming up with the idea for the Santa-on-the-fire-truck program held in December. Clark said the department got a lot of positive feedback for the program, in which Santa drove around on top of a decorated fire truck in the city’s various neighborhoods.
Clark said the department’s remodeled fitness facility at its training facilities is nearing completion, and there will be an open house soon.
Animal Control
Interim Animal Control Director Ted Davis reported the department’s statistics for the month:
• 321 calls from the public
• 45 impounded dogs
• 18 impounded cats
• 63 owner-surrendered dogs
• nine owner-surrendered cats
• seven dogs adopted
• one reclaimed dog
Weed and Seed
Pine Bluff Weed and Seed Coordinator Rev. Jesse Turner reported that the program will expend its last remaining funding by the end of January. Funding for the crime-reduction and prevention program was cut by the federal government.
Turner said he hopes to continue the types of programs associated with Weed and Seed by pursuing grants and assistance from the county and city through the community group Interested Citizens for Voter Registration Inc., which wrote the grant for the Weed and Seed program funding.
The next upcoming ICVR program will be a week-long KingFest Celebration, Jan. 10-16. Details: 536-7274 or pbicvr@aol.com