Arkansas Fire Deaths Reach 50 in 2025

Arkansas has recorded 50 fire-related deaths in 2025 — the highest total since 2016 and up from 27 deaths in 2024, exceeding the previous record of 47 set in 2016. The Arkansas State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Division of Emergency Management said many of the deaths occurred in homes without working smoke detectors and that the state’s fire death rate per 1,000 fires is higher than the national average. Eddie Anderson, the fire marshal’s community risk reduction specialist, warned occupants typically have just two to three minutes to escape a home fire and said functioning smoke detectors can boost survival chances by about 60%. Officials urged Arkansans to install detectors on every level and near sleeping areas, test alarms monthly, change batteries at least annually, and replace detectors per manufacturer guidance (about every 10 years). They also advised households to create and practice escape plans that account for residents with limited mobility, hearing, or vision. The release coincided with National Fire Prevention Month as agencies emphasized these life‑saving steps to try to reverse the rising toll.