At the same meeting on June 26, 1969, the POA board approved plans for a new fire station and security building.

Bids were received in August for the new building to be located near the junction of Highways 71 and 340. By November 1969, construction on the fire and security building was under way. The structure was completed in May 1970. It was nearly square and contained about 3,000 square feet in the main part, and was large enough to house the fire and police equipment. There were three large doors on the north side of the building to permit easy exit and entrance by fire trucks. Attached to the main building on the east side were offices for the fire and police departments.

On May 19, 1970, Bella Vistans proudly dedicated their new facility. A ribbon cutting officially opened the new fire and security building. Joe Basore, Coopers senior vice president for marketing explained that this added protection would reduce fire insurance rates. From the early years in Bella Vista until that time, there had been numerous devastating fires in the community. An organized fire department properly housed and with good equipment, greatly reduced that danger.

At the beginning the fire department did not have much equipment. The main truck was a new 1969 Boardman pumper, which could pump 1,000 gallons of water per minute. The department also had a smaller truck that could pump 250 gallons a minute and which was used mainly to fight grass fires. This equipment and the volunteers were now under the direction of Joe Hiett, the new volunteer fire chief. Since the firemen continued to be volunteers, they were given special training to improve their fire fighting skills.

As the Village grew it was clear that the fire department needed a higher degree of professionalism. In January 1972, William Beck was appointed as the Villages first paid fire chief. Beck came from Texas where he had been fire chief at Sheppard Air Force Base near Wichita Falls. The first paid fireman was Ron Wardlaw, who went to work in the department on November 20, 1972. By the early 1970s the Village had an active fire department.

The Village initially managed with a single fire station at Town Center and with mostly volunteer firemen, but in April 1977, the POA opened the east side station near the junction of Highway 340 and Trafalgar Road. In January 1977, the POA board purchased a new Boardman pumper fire truck for $48,000, and the original 1,000 gallon pumper was shifted to the new east side station, Bill Beck, the first paid fire chief, served in that position until the end of 1979 when he retired. On December 21 David Spring assumed the top job. Spring had joined the force in 1974, after serving 16 years in the Amarillo, Texas, Fire Department. Spring also served as director of the ambulance service. Be the end of the 1970s, the fire department had a new chief, two stations, two worthy fire trucks and some lesser equipment, eight paid firemen and 17 volunteers.

Besides fire protection, villagers also needed ambulance service. This was especially important in a community of older people. The POA board had discussed this matter from time to time but had delayed taking any action because of liability problems. In July 1971, and arrangement was worked out with Elcare, Inc., operator of Concordia, to provide ambulance service to Bella Vistans for a monthly subsidy from the POA of $500. However, as time passed, villagers believed that they needed their own ambulance service.

In 1976 the Bella Vista Ambulance Service, Inc., a non-profit corporation, was organized to provide ambulance service. A board of directors who immediately set out to raise money to purchase and equip an ambulance governed it. A fund-raising committee was set up to canvass the community and by March 1, 1977, the treasurer reported that about $39,000 had been raised in cash and pledges. In March the bid of $25,415 for a new ambulance was accepted. On September 24, 1977, some 200 people gathered at Riordan Hall for the dedication ceremonies initiating the ambulance service. The master of ceremonies said that this "is truly a milestone in the progress of our Village." Service began October 1. There were 14 people then trained in emergency medical treatment. Membership cost $25 a year per family.

On December 13, 1977, the Ambulance Association held its first annual meeting. The treasurer reported income of $17,300 and expenditures of $14,675. The service was off to a good start. There were then 347 members. However, membership grew rapidly, and on September 30, 1981, the POA general manager, purchased the 1,000^th ambulance contract. By that time the ambulance service had the reputation of being one of the best in all of Northwest Arkansas.

On November 21, 1985, the board voted to build the third fire station on the west side near Branchwood to protect the growing population in the Highlands. Construction began late in 1985 and service began on July 6, 1986.

Over two or three years the board and management had discussed the possibility of building a larger police and fire head quarters outside of Town Center. In fact, the publicity given to a new building showed it located east of Highway 340 across from the Methodist Church. The board members agreed that it would be unwise to move the police and fire department, and by September 1984, plans were complete for an addition to the police and fire headquarters. Work began on the new two-story building in June 1985. It abutted the offices of the police and fire departments on the east side. Completed early in 1986, the new structure housed the police department on the first floor and provided addition office space for POA administration on the second floor.

In March 1986, additional firemen were hired to staff the Highland fire station. This made a total of 23 paid firemen and 12 volunteers. The population at that time was approx. 6500.

In December 1992, Chief David Spring transferred to the Fire Marshalls position and Henry Thompson became the Fire Chief. Spring retired in June 1994. Thompson started with the Bella Vista Fire Department January 1, 1980, after serving 7 years as a firefighter in the Air Force and 4 years with the Federal Civil Service.

In Late 2007 Fire Chief Henry Thompson retired from duty, and was replaced by Battalion Chief Steve Sims as the new and welcomed Chief of the Bella Vista Fire Department.  Chief Steve Sims now leads the Bella Vista Fire Department team of 32 full time firefighters consisting of EMT-Paramedics and EMT-Basics.

With a population approaching 26,000, many exciting changes are coming with this consistent growth of the new "City" of Bella Vista.  We at the department continue to strive toward an unprecedented excellence in proudly serving the good residents, our friends and neighbors of Bella Vista.