Garland County Department of Emergency Management

Garland County Department of Emergency Management The GCDEM mission statement can best be summed up with only four words. They are: MITIGATION, PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE and RECOVERY.

WHAT WE ARE AND WHAT WE AREN'T

The GCDEM is charged with responding to natural and man-made hazards such as tornadoes, chemical spills, chemical related fires, etc. This office works on an agency to agency basis rather
than a one on one, individual type situation. We do not deal with indigents, housing problems of the poor, social problems or dispensation of funds for the payment of utility bills

. We do not negotiate or mediate disputes with an individual and his/her insurance company after a fire or large scale disaster such as a flood or tornado. We will, however refer you to agencies that are at your disposal after a large scale disaster. An example would be Small Business Administration after the loss or
damage of a business due to floods or tornadoes in the area of your business location. The GCDEM also houses the administrative branch of 9-1-1, which deals with the budget, address assignments, equipment purchase and re-placement, data management, dissemination of data to other emergency agencies, and a variety of other duties. Emergency calls are not answered in this office. Emergency calls emanating from an address within the City of Hot Springs, are receive at the Hot Springs Police Department for proper dispatch. Emergency calls made outside the city of Hot Springs are received at the Garland County Sheriffs Office for dispatch to one of their units or if it happens to be a "fire call" or someone in need of an ambulance, the call is transferred to LifeNet EMS by way of a one button transfer. LifeNet EMS has volunteered to dispatch for the 10 volunteer fire departments.

04/13/2026

Attention City of Hot Springs Water Customers.......

The following is a message from the Hot Springs Utilities Department:

"As a reminder, the New City of Hot Springs water treatment plant has begun delivering treated water to residents.
As the system continues to undergo testing and normal operation adjustments, some customers may experience temporary water discoloration. This is a common occurrence when new facilities come online and high-pressure pumps are engaged. As water moves through the system, minerals in the pipe may be dislodged and cause temporary decolorization.
Please be assured, the discoloration is temporary and will clear on its own, there is no impact on water safety, and the water remains safe for drinking and all household uses.
If the faucet water is discolored the following should be avoided, doing laundry, temporarily discolored water can sometimes stain fabrics, especially light colors.
If discoloration persists call Maintenance Control at 501-321-6200.
We appreciate your patience as we complete this important transition and continue improving our water system."

Also, there may be fire hydrants open in some areas to help alleviate over pressure in the lines and to assist with clearing any sediment flow. Be assured that the CHS Utilities Department is aware of these hydrants being open and will close them when needed. If you have any concerns about a hydrant, please call CHS Utilities at 501-321-6200.

The BURN BAN for Garland County has been LIFTED!See attached EO for Judge Mahoney.......
04/06/2026

The BURN BAN for Garland County has been LIFTED!
See attached EO for Judge Mahoney.......

03/28/2026

There is an Elevated Fire Risk Saturday following this weak system today. Lack of significant rainfall and low humidity Saturday will allow fires to catch easier. Winds will trend lighter during the driest part of the day, limiting a larger risk. Outdoor burning should be avoided.

BURN BAN!!!!!!!! Effective IMMEDIATELY, Garland County is now under a BURN BAN. NO outside burning is allowed until the ...
03/25/2026

BURN BAN!!!!!!!!

Effective IMMEDIATELY, Garland County is now under a BURN BAN. NO outside burning is allowed until the BURN BAN is lifted by the County Judge. See attached Executive Order.....

03/25/2026

The Ouachita and Ozark-St. Francis National Forests will conduct multiple prescribed burns today, March 25, 2026.

Disclaimer: Prescribed burn plans can change quickly as weather and fuel conditions shift. For the most accurate, up to date information, please check the Southern Region Prescribed Burn Tracker—linked below and pinned to the top of our pages.

OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST
Burn Name: Vanderslice 7 & 8
Acres: 3179
District: Jessieville/Winona/Fourche
Montgomery County near Fannie, Ark.

Burn Name: Sharp Top 1
Acres: 3050
District: Caddo/Womble
Montgomery County near Glenwood, Ark.
SMOKE ALERT: Smoke may be visible in the Sharp Top Walk-in Turkey Hunting Area.

Burn Name: Andy Knight South
Acres: 3264
District: Poteau/Cold Springs
Scott County near Waldron Ark.

OZARK-ST. FRANCIS NATIONAL FORESTS
Burn Name: Calico
Acres: 414
District: Mount Magazine
Logan County near Paris, Ark.

Maps: https://usfs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=b196b5958480421fa7b5ee2a6ce91d31

Smoke may be visible along nearby roads and towns. Please use caution if you encounter smoke on roads.

Prescribed fire reduces hazardous fuels, improves forest health, and supports habitat for native wildlife. Applying low-intensity fire under the right conditions also helps lower the risk of severe wildfires in the future.

Learn more about prescribed fire on the forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/ouachita/fire

03/11/2026

ROAD CLOSURE NOTICE.......

The Garland County Road Department will have Blacksnake Road (from the city limits at Whittington AV to Bull Bayou Road) CLOSED tomorrow, March 12th, 8:00AM to 3:00 PM for brush trimming and ditch clean outs. Apologies for any inconvenience.

03/02/2026

Monday's topic for Severe Weather Awareness Week is Flooding. Flash flooding usually occurs within six hours and happens when rain falls faster than it can be carried away. Please take a look at the graphic below for more information about flooding.

02/26/2026

FYI - We have drift smoke settling into our area from Prescribed Burns to our Notth and West. We are seeing it already at our main station at 2900 Airport Rd by LH School. Prescribed Burns are located: 2,002 acres outside Crystal Springs near Hickory Nut Mtn; 3,101 acres 12 Miles North of Mt Ida; and 3,618 acres 4 Miles Southeast of Oden. These are controlled burns and with NW winds today our area could see thick drift smoke at times today and tonight. Please only call and report any fires that you can physically see flames that are not controlled or being attended by someone, this smoke will cover large areas at times and can stress 911 call centers and resources reporting false incidents just due to smoke in the area.

02/13/2026

FYI From Coakley Construction:

Sent: Friday, February 13, 2026 11:18 AM

We are going to be repairing Old Bear Road starting at 1222 Old Bear and going to Brady Mountain Road.
We will be repairing both lanes but we will have one lane open for traffic.
We will start Monday 2/16/2026 and it will probably take a month to finish.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Sean Lewis

02/09/2026

Garland County Residents,

Garland County offices, departments, and the landfill will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of George Washington and Daisy Gatson Bates Day.

House-to-house collection service will operate on its regular schedule.

Thank you,
Garland County Judge Darryl Mahoney

Address

401 Mid America Boulevard
Hot Springs, AR
71913

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+15017673911

Website

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