Public Education Division

The Public Education/ Community Outreach Division, headed by Assistant Fire Chief/Chief Fire Marshal Don Kinney, is responsible for Fire Safety Education, for determining the origin, cause, and circumstances of fires and explosions that occur in the City of Little Rock; ensures the enforcement of fire prevention and related codes by inspecting facilities in the City; investigates citizen complaints and Internal Affairs matters; inspects night clubs for occupancy and code compliance; issues and monitors burn permits; monitors fire alarm, fire pump, fire sprinkler, and fire standpipe tests; and many other activities to ensure the safety and welfare of the citizens of Little Rock.

Assistant Fire Chief Don Kinney was promoted and appointed chief Fire Marshal in July, 2001. Chief Kinney was hired in July, 1973 and came up through the ranks working as a Ladderman on Truck 3 and Hoseman on Engine-18; Driver (Fire Apparatus Engineer) in the Training Division and in Suppression (Operations), Captain in the Training Division, at the Air Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) station and on an Engine Company, and District Chief (Battalion Chief) in Battalion #9.

He has an Associate of Applied Science in Fire Science Degree, Associate of Applied Science in Fire Protection Degree, is a Certified Law Enforcement Officer, and a Graduate of the National fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program having written the first 4.0 Applied Research Project from the State of Arkansas in the history of the program.

Chief Kinney is a member of the following organizations: National Society of Executive Fire Officers, International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Arson Investigators, Arkansas Fire Marshal’s Association, National Fire Protection Association, Arkansas Area Maritime Security Subcommittee, Pulaski County Local Emergency Planning Committee, and the Board of Directors of the American Indian Center of Arkansas-where he has a scholarship named in his honor, and was the 1980 Jaycee Firefighter of the Year.