Greenie's AlbumCity of Texarkana, Texas Fire Department
Dan Shiner, Chief of Police/Director of Public Safety
Kenny Copeland, Battalion Chief, Training and Safety
Our Mission:
To protect the Citizens of Texarkana and their property from the dangers of fire and other hazardous conditions through public education, fire prevention, code enforcement, and professional emergency response.
To prepare ourselves for response through regular, effective training.
To protect ourselves through an effective safety program.
Station Information:
| Name | Address | Phone |
| Station 1 | 524 W. 3rd St. | (903) 798-3983 |
| Station 3 | 5706 Richmond Rd. | (903) 798-3986 |
| Station 4 | 4315 Summerhill Rd. | (903) 798-3988 |
| Station 5 | 306 S. Kenwood St. | (903) 798-3990 |
| Station 7 | 3101 S. Lake Dr. | (903) 798-3992 |
| Fire Admin | 3124 Texas Blvd. | (903) 798-3994 |
| Training Field | 1101 W. 21st St. | None |
Department Information:
The Texarkana Fire Department is divided functionally into four divisions: Administration, Operations, Prevention, and Training & Safety. All uniformed personnel in all divisions are certified through the Texas Commission on Fire Protection as structural fire protection personnel. Nearly all personnel are certified through the Texas Department of Health to provide emergency medical care. Most are certified as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), while a few hold other levels of certification, including Emergency Care Attendant, EMT-Intermediate, EMT-Paramedic, and Licensed Paramedic.
The Administration Division consists of the Fire Chief and two secretaries. This division is responsible for the overall administration of the department. Its major objective is to provide the leadership and administrative support to allow other divisions to accomplish their goals.
The Operations Division provides emergency and non-emergency response services to the citizens of Texarkana, protecting them and their property from the danger of fire and other hazardous conditions. This division operates 5 fire stations with 5 engine companies, 1 aerial platform, 1 rescue company, and 1 Battalion Chief, providing fire suppression, rescue/extrication and first responder emergency medical services. Emergency medical transport is provided by a privately operated service, LifeNet, Inc., which is based in Texarkana. Personnel in this division work 24 hour shifts, with three shifts providing continuous coverage. There are 72 authorized positions in this division. Each shift is supervised by a Battalion Chief and each station by a station Captain.
The Fire Prevention Division serves three major functions: public education, inspection, and investigation. Through public education programs, the personnel of this division work to inform the public of the dangers of fire and the steps that can be taken to minimize the risk. Through the inspection program, fire hazards and code violations are identified and corrected. All businesses and public buildings in Texarkana are inspected at least annually by the personnel of this division or by Operations Division personnel through an in-service inspection program supervised by this division. All fires are investigated to determine cause and origin. If arson is suspected, the investigation is aggressive and is followed through to prosecution if possible. In addition to these major functions, the personnel of this division conduct fire suppression system tests, fire alarm system tests, and building construction plan reviews. In addition to their firefighting and medical certifications, personnel in this division are licensed peace officers, certified arson investigators, and certified fire prevention inspectors.
The Training and Safety Division is responsible for directing training activities for the entire department. This includes training necessary to maintain readiness as well as training required to meet statutory and insurance rating agency requirements. The Texas Commission on Fire Protection requires a minimum of 20 hours of continuing education per employee per year. The Texas Department of Health requires at least 20 hours of medical continuing education per year for all personnel certified as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT). Paramedic licensee or certification requires additional continuing education. In addition, the Insurance Services Office (ISO), while not a regulating agency, requires significant training on a monthly and annual basis to maintain the highest possible insurance rating. In addition, the Battalion Chief of this division serves as the department's Health & Safety Officer. As such, he supervises the safety program for the entire department and chairs the Health and Safety Committee. Personnel from this division also serve as incident safety officers at the scene of major incidents. In addition to their firefighting and medical certifications, personnel in this division are certified to instruct both firefighting and emergency medical subjects.