January 21, 2026

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas State Fire Marshal’s Office joins agencies across the nation in recognizing Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Week, observed January 17-26, 2026.

Community Risk Reduction Week emphasizes the importance of identifying and addressing everyday hazards before they lead to emergencies. In 2025, the state received reports of more than 60 fire-related deaths, underscoring the urgent need for education, prevention, and preparedness to save lives.

“Every one of those fatalities is a solemn reminder that prevention saves lives,” said Arkansas Fire Marshal Dennis Free. “When Arkansans take simple steps to reduce fire risks—like checking smoke alarms or safely using space heaters—they help protect their families and their neighbors.”

CRR Week encourages residents to take proactive measures that make their homes and communities safer. The State Fire Marshal’s Office recommend these steps to reduce the risk of household fires:

• Install and test smoke alarms on every level of your home and inside each bedroom. Replace batteries when you change your clocks, twice a year.
• Create and practice a home fire escape plan with two ways out of every room.
• Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn and never leave them unattended.
• Avoid overloading electrical outlets and replace damaged cords immediately.
• Never leave cooking unattended and keep a lid nearby to smother small grease fires.
• Properly dispose of smoking materials and avoid smoking indoors.

CRR Week focuses on five key themes:

• Education: Teaching residents about fire prevention and emergency preparedness.
• Engineering: Advocating for safer building codes and technology.
• Enforcement: Promoting compliance with safety laws and regulations.
• Emergency Response: Strengthening capabilities to respond effectively when incidents occur.
• Evaluation: Monitoring outcomes to continuously improve community safety efforts.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office urges communities to work together to identify local risks and build safer, more resilient neighborhoods.

Arkansans are encouraged to review their own safety plans, talk with family members, and share fire prevention tips throughout the week.

For more information about Community Risk Reduction Week, visit https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/community-risk-reduction/.

The Arkansas Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) is the state’s homeland security and preparedness agency. The agency works to identify and lessen the effects of emergencies, disasters and threats to Arkansas by developing effective prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery actions for all disasters and emergencies.