Bella Vista Fire Department

09/04/2026

Four decades. A literal lifetime. Time to go from teenager to adult, to start and raise a family, then for your children to have children of their own. Long enough to see this department (and this city) change dramatically, from a small volunteer force of dedicated locals to a competitive thriving department with talented full-time EMTs and paramedics. Fire stations, equipment, a training facility — this man has been an integral part of it all. Deputy Chief Wolfgang, you will be missed and we are grateful for your passion, endless dedication, and commitment to this department and its members. Congratulations to you on your retirement.

09/02/2026

September is National Preparedness Month - a month aimed at encouraging Americans to prepare for emergencies. The month is a great time to take small steps to make a big difference in being prepared.

This year’s theme is Americans Stand Ready, reflecting the spirit of unity, resilience and resourcefulness that make our country strong. It’s a reminder that each of us can make a difference by taking proactive steps before a disaster strikes.

Preparedness is everyone’s responsibility, and disasters and emergencies can happen at any time, anywhere, and sometimes without warning. Follow us this month to learn tips on making a disaster plan for you family, building a disaster kit, and other ways to prepare for the unexpected.

09/02/2026

Progress on the Town Center complex continues. This final phase of construction will see this part of the complex - the original Fire Station 1 built in 1970 - demolished and then rebuilt into two new modern bays and a mezzanine with office space, storage, and a fitness area for our crews.

This original part of the station housed both the POA's fire and security offices in the 1970s. The room that most currently was a laundry room was once a holding cell. The department was still a volunteer department for the first couple years in this building, becoming a paid department in 1972. Later, this area became the Fire Department's administration offices and the living quarters for those stationed at Town Center until they moved into updated quarters in 2024.

08/31/2026

City employees gathered for a special lunch today to honor Chuck MacLean and his 46 years of volunteer service to the Bella Vista Fire Department and later the whole city.

Charles “Chuck” MacLean, Jr. moved to Bella Vista in 1976 to help his parents finish building their house. In 1978, he started his own repair service in the Village, as it was then called. In 1980, he joined the Bella Vista Fire Department as a volunteer. Back then there were six paid firemen and about 10 volunteers. There were only two stations and on every other Wednesday the volunteers met to learn more about firefighting. The volunteers also served as first responders for car accidents. They had a large pager that toned out fire locations and were issued bunker gear and a red light to put on top of their vehicle.

About 10 years ago, Chuck decided to hang up firefighting and instead do maintenance work for the department and the city, while continuing handyman work on the side. It has been common to find Chuck hanging around the Fire Department, as well as other city locations, and among city personnel he has befriended through the years.

Chuck decided it is time to retire and wishes safety to the fire department and all first responder personnel. This department and the city is grateful to Chuck’s service, helpfulness, and generosity to his community, and we wish him well in his retirement.

08/31/2026

We are so excited for the annual BVFD Kids Day event, set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 at the Bella Vista Fire Department Training Center, 7 Carlisle Drive.

Join us to close out Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 4-10). Attendees can watch firefighter demonstrations such as rappelling from our training tower, cutting up cars (vehicle extrication), and live fire in our burn room, where you can feel the heat from a safe distance and viewpoint.

Kids can also enjoy the ambulance and fire equipment touch-a-truck, a gear try-on station, coloring station and sidewalk chalk, photo booth, and more.

And of course, back by popular demand – a chance to spray a real fire hose.

The tentative schedule of demonstrations will include rappelling and extrication demos within each hour of the event, plus two live burn demos at noon and 1 p.m.

Hamburgers and hot dogs will be available for free, so plan to bring the family for lunch.

08/26/2026

This morning we honored some of our own with a change of helmet ceremony, recognizing their recent promotions. We are proud of the hard work and committment this group of leaders gives to our department, and congratulate them on their new positions.

Those promoted (listed with their new rank) include Deputy Chief Jack Sanders, Battalion Chief Brian Heffington, Battalion Chief Michael Kobylinski, Captain Jayson Steeley, and Captain Miles Purdom.

08/25/2026

We are grateful for the support of this wonderful community, and join them in rememberance and honoring all impacted by the events of September 11, 2001.

Local musicians are hosting a free event at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10 at Cooper Chapel in remembrance of September 11, 2001. They are graciously passing along any donations received to the city's Fire Department. We appreciate this act of kindness and support to our firefighters.

08/23/2026

Join Fire Department personnel Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at the Bella Vista Fire Training Center for a memorial stair climb to honor those who lost their lives 25 years ago - Sept. 11, 2001.

We invite surrounding department members and members of the community to join us for three memorial stair climb start times - 6 a.m., 7:30 a.m., and 9 a.m.

To complete the full 110 flights of stairs that were climbed that day, we will do 27.5 rounds of four flights each round. Participants can do as little or as many as they want or are able.

(Participants should be able bodied to attempt the stair climb, and will climb at their own risk. Air packs will not be provided for those from outside departments.)

08/18/2026

It's been 41 years since Bryan Wolfgang walked into Bella Vista Fire Department for his first shift. On Friday, Sept. 4, he will go home from work here for the last time. Join us to honor his service to our city and wish him well as he tries to adjust to retirement.

08/14/2026

Something is missing in this photo. Do you know what it is?