Dennis Free – Board Member
Dennis Free’s journey in the fire service is a testament to his lifelong dedication to public safety. Hailing from North Little Rock, Arkansas, Dennis graduated from Old Main High School in 1974. His career path initially led him into the construction field, but his passion for serving his community ultimately led him to pursue a career in firefighting. At the age of 21, Dennis began applying to various fire departments, including the Little Rock Fire Department. After three years of perseverance, he was finally hired on with the Little Rock Fire Department on March 24, 1980.
Throughout his illustrious career with the fire department, Dennis held various positions, starting as a firefighter in 1980, then advancing to Driver/Engineer in 1996, Captain in 1998, and eventually Deputy Fire Marshal in 2010. As Deputy Fire Marshal, Dennis played a crucial role in planning and reviewing automatic fire sprinkler and fire alarm systems, assessing new subdivisions and fire hydrant placements, and conducting fire investigations. His expertise was further recognized when he became a member of the Arkansas Fire Prevention Codes Review Committee in both 2007 and 2012.
After an impressive tenure of 30 years and 8 months with the fire service, Dennis retired on November 1, 2010, marking the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. He transitioned to a new role with the Arkansas State Police Fire Marshal’s Office as the First Civilian State Fire Marshal Inspector. In this capacity, Dennis has continued to uphold the highest standards of fire safety inspection and enforcement for over 9 years, with plans to continue his service for another 11 years, ultimately achieving an incredible milestone of 50 years in the fire service. Dennis Free’s unwavering commitment and dedication to public safety have left an indelible mark on the firefighting community, embodying the true spirit of service and professionalism.