The April 2003 Arkansas FireWise Home of the Month is from Eastern Arkansas and belongs to Mike and Sharon Taylor of Wynne.

The Taylors bought the 12 acres in the winter of 1997, and immediately began thinning trees and clearing underbrush. Reducing the fuel available to support fire is always important. By eliminating ladder fuels close to the home, the Taylors have been able to keep their trees intact and still be Firewise.

Because the home faces a slope on one side, it requires more than 30 feet of defensible space on that side. Fire burns much faster uphills, so slopes always require more defensible space than flat terrain.

Also note the driveway is adequately sized to give emergency vehicles access, and the address is clearly marked making the home easier to locate.