‘Homefront Heroes’

Dear editor:

Cpl. Kirk Zaner with the Hot Springs Police Department was on site when our fire department quickly put out an apartment fire. He said that our fire department did an outstanding job and that the Hot Springs citizens should be proud of them. All good citizens are proud and grateful to all of our Homefront Heroes in the fire, sheriff and police departments. We feel safer because we can count on them when we need help.

I have seen our fire department in action and they are truly heroic. I was touched when I witnessed these amazing men trying to resuscitate a neighbor’s dog that they rescued from a house fire. The dog suffered smoke inhalation. I will never forget these awesome firemen working so hard to save the dog. They won me over. Fire Chief Ed Davis leads a great group of heroes.

Citizens should be grateful and should also be careful. Campers could pack a fire extinguisher and extra bottles of water with them. Lit cigarettes should be crushed out in an ashtray. Candles should be monitored. Use a kitchen timer when baking. Don’t smoke in bed. Better for you — don’t smoke.

Instead of burning leaves — bag them. Bags of leaves and branches cut to 3 feet can be placed curbside every other week on your designated garbage day. Once you know which week the yard waste is to be picked up, mark your calendar for every other week. This is a free city service and they have a special truck for it. We can then have cleaner air in the city and be safer.

How lucky we are to have our Homefront Heroes. They work so hard to keep us safe. I thank them for their service and dedication.

With utmost sincerity, Paula Woodman Hot Springs