Fire training in Arkansas has been going on for the last 50 to 60 years. In the early 40’s the fire training was through the Arkansas Fire College. There was not a base from which to work. Three instructors basically traveled Arkansas teaching classes. These three instructors later became very instrumental in forming the fire training program we have now through SAU Tech.

The Fire Training Academy (as it was originally named) was formally established in 1967 as a training division of the Southwest Technical Institute (later to be known as Southern Arkansas University Tech). The offices and training site were located in the Highland Industrial Park, the former site of Shumaker Weapons Depot.

The administrative offices for the new fire academy were set up in what was once the main fire station of the weapons depot.

This building served as the AFTA administrative offices, primary classroom and central training location until Phase I construction at the Camden training site was completed in 1973. The building continued to serve as the administration building until the completion of a new administrative building at the training site in June 2004.

The Lead Instructor of the Arkansas Fire Training Academy was Whit Murphy, for whom the facilities at the Camden Training Site are named.

The Camden Training Site includes the new administration building with theatre style classroom, faculty and staff offices and reception area and a large classroom building with offices, a large two-story burn building, a small single-story, a smoke building, a five-story drill tower, an apparatus building, pumpers, and various training props.