Arkansas FireWise celebrated its 100th recognized community, a milestone the organization honored on Oct. 4, 2008, at Lake Hamilton. The Lake Hamilton Fire Department is also celebrating it's 50th anniversary as well as being honored as the state's 100th FireWise community since the program's inception, two great accomplishments.

For the story on Lake Hamilton's FireWise Day and anniversary along with additional photos, click here to visit Lake Hamilton's webpage.

For more information about the mapping techniques being using in Lake Hamilton and the surrounding areas, click here to view the story in the August 2008 FireWise In Action Newsletter.

The goal of Arkansas FireWise is to spread information that will enable Arkansans to become more "Firewise" and fire-safe when living in or near forested or undeveloped areas.

Firewise is a cooperative effort of federal, state and private agencies and organizations to promote fire safety in the wildland/urban interface. The primary Firewise belief is that it is unnecessary to lose homes or other buildings to wildland fires if those structures are built and maintained according to simple Firewise principles.

Firefighters cannot be everywhere when a wildland fire occurs. However, if homeowners follow Firewise suggestions, homes and buildings can survive wildfires without any firefighters there to protect them.

The first step to becoming Firewise is to create a lean, clean and green defensible space extending 30 feet from your home on all sides. (This area should be extended farther if the structure is located on a slope.) The goal is to break the chain of flammable fuel between your home and the wildland area. Examine your yard, and ask "what can catch fire and carry this fire to the house?"

Make your landscape "lean" by removing or isolating highly-flammable plants, and creating vertical and horizontal separations between plants and plant groups. Prune trees and shrubs periodically to remove ladder fuels that could carry a grass fire into the tree canopy. Also, be sure to prune any tree limbs hanging over your home. Added protection can be provided by incorporating gravel or paved walkways to create a fire break.

"Clean" up your property by removing dead plants and plant materials such as leaves, twigs and branches. Remember to remove fallen leaves and twigs that may accumulate in gutters or on the roof.

Keep your yard "green" be selecting plants with high-moisture content leaves, low oil or resin content, limited foliage, few dead branches, and lower overall height when landscaping. Keep your lawn well-watered, and select trees with open and loose branching patterns. Be sure to space flammable conifer trees at least 30 feet between tree tops to reduce the risk of crown fire.

You can landscape for fire protection while maintaining a natural look to your surroundings. Work with the plants native to the site, using the patterns found in nature. The placement of plants and trees is just as important as the species when planning for fire safety.

For added protection, be sure to screen under decks with 1/8-inch metal wire mesh to prevent the accumulation of leaves and debris that can easily ignite.

For more information about Arkansas FireWise or to request a community site visit, please contact one of the representatives below.

Matt Simpson, FireWise Coordinator
(501) 296-1872
Matthew.Simpson@arkansas.gov

Natalie Canard, Information Officer
(501) 603-3545
Natalie.Canard@arkansas.gov
or
firewise@arkansas.gov

3821 West Roosevelt Road
Little Rock, AR 72204
Phone: (501) 296-1940
Fax: (501) 296-1949

The Arkansas Forestry Commission offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.