From the beginning in 1939, the fire training was through the Arkansas Fire College. Because there was no physical base from which to work, instructors traveled throughout Arkansas teaching firefighting techniques to individual fire department personnel and through regional fire schools attended by fire departments in central, eastern, and northwestern geographical areas. The regional fire schools became the method that statewide fire training was delivered, and the first regional school was held in Fort Smith on June 19-22, 1939. Approximately 80 firefighters from 8 cities and towns attended with instruction provided by Fort Smith Fire Department Assistant Chiefs John Dixon and Pink Dean and Captains Furner, Williamson, and Borger. Instruction for local fire department training officers was also developed to ensure the continued training of fire fighters, supplemented by the regional training programs.