Jonesboro, Ark. — While the Jonesboro Fire Department is best known for extinguishing fires, the majority of its calls involve medical emergencies, department officials confirmed.

“About 80% of our calls are medical,” firefighter Kane Gearhart explained. “Yesterday, Station 1 made about five or six calls. All of them were medicals. We also respond to vehicle accidents and hazardous material situations like gas leaks or odors.”

Firefighter crews are under heavy pressure to respond quickly to any emergency. Battalion Chief Jeremy Holler noted that firefighters are required to be on the move within 60 seconds of receiving a call.

“The call comes in, you’ve got 60 seconds to be on the truck and moving,” Holler said. “That’s because, for instance, if it’s a house fire and somebody’s trapped, the urgency is critical. Hold your breath—how long can you hold it? That’s how long they’re waiting for us to get there.”

Alongside medical calls, the department has been tackling an increase in brush and grass fires during the ongoing burn ban in Arkansas, which has pushed crews to their limits. Holler emphasized that the strain highlights the importance of fire prevention efforts so resources remain available for life-threatening situations.

“Every call we don’t have to make for a brush fire is another crew available for a medical emergency,” Holler added.

Despite the challenges, firefighters approach each call with a focus on assistance. Holler shared a personal connection to the department’s calls to help individuals in non-fire emergencies, such as providing aid to people who have fallen in their homes.

“If somebody has some kind of infirmity and they’ve fallen and can’t get up, that one’s personally close to me,” Holler said, recalling the help his father, who had Parkinson’s disease, received from Engine 5. “That’s what we’re here for, to help people.”

With burn bans still in effect and much of the state facing a heightened wildfire risk, officials remind residents to follow burn restrictions and focus on fire safety.

More information on the department’s responses and ongoing efforts can be found through local emergency services.