Monticello’s Fire Chief, Eric Chisom, was made a part of an elite group over the weekend when he was inducted into the Arkansas State Firefighter Hall of Fame.
“There are two ways to get inducted into the Hall of Fame,” Chisom said. “The first is to be nominated by your peers and voted on by the awards committee. The second is to lose your life in the line of duty. Anyone who pays that ultimate sacrifice is automatically inducted. Jerry Robinson of North Little Rock and Everette Watson from Calvert Township were inducted this year because they gave that sacrifice.”
When asked about how long he has served on the fire department, Chisom stated that he started as a volunteer in February of 1996. He went full time in August of 2004, giving him a little over 27 years of service on the fire department.
“I have had the pleasure of working with some of the best people around. With the support of the Mayors and City Council members that I have worked with, we have been able to update our apparatus and much of our equipment. These things are critical for the safety of our firefighter,” Chisom said when discussing how he feels he has been able to impact the department and community through his service. “We were also successful in adding a full time Fire Marshal in 2020. I would have to say that my impact would be that I’m not afraid to ask for the things that this department needs. I have told the department that the best thing you can do is leave this job better than you found it and I challenge them to ‘be better tomorrow than you are today’.”
When asked if there were any future plans for the advancement of the Monticello Fire Department, Chisom said they are always looking to improve, and are currently in the planning stages of building a live burn building. This building will not only give Monticello’s firefighters valuable training, but will be available to help neighboring departments as well.
“As it relates to knowledge of his craft and running an effective department, there isn’t a department leader in Drew County that is more organized professional, or dedicated than our Fire Chief,” Mayor Jason Akers said of Chisom.
“Congratulations Fire Chief Eric Chisom on your recent induction to the Arkansas State Firefighter Hall of Fame. The department is very fortunate to have a leader as passionate about the fire service and the community as Eric is. We are very proud of you Chief. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this honor,” Captain Shawn Maloney of the Monticello Fire Department.
