Bella Vista Village became Arkansas' 37th Firewise Community/USA, and the community was recognized for its accomplishment during a presentation Nov. 16, 2005, at Bella Vista Fire Station No. 1.

Presenting the award were Firewise Communities/USA Project Manager Judith Leraas Cook of Eastsound, Wash., Arkansas State Forester John Shannon and Arkansas FireWise Coordinator David Samuel. (Pictured at right are Bella Vista Fire Chief Henry Thompson and John Shannon.)

"The wildland/urban interface is the area where structures and other human development meets or intermingles with undeveloped wildland vegetation," said Cook prior to the plaque presentation. "Many of the forested areas in Arkansas have become very desirable places to live. We're trying to help homeowners learn how to protect themselves by creating an environment in which they will be safe from wildfire."

In the United States, Cook said, "our population has nearly tripled over the last 100 years, and much of the growth is going into traditionally natural areas. Many people who move into these areas, which are very picturesque, arrive with urban expectations. They may not recognize wildfire as a hazard and may make the assumption that the fire department is able to provide the same kind of protection that they do in the city. In most cases, it's true that the fire department man. Should a wildfire occur, however, dozens of homes can be threatened at the same time, and this can overwhelm a smaller fire department. So we try to help the people who move into these areas learn how to prepare their home ignition zones in case of fire."

"The Firewise Communities/USA program was built around the notion of the home ignition zone — a house and its surroundings out to 100-150 feet. A house burns because of its relationship with everything in its surroundings. To avoid home ignition, the homeowner must eliminate the potential relationship a wildfire can have with his home. This can be accomplished by interrupting the natural path a fire takes," Cook said.

(Left : Judith Leraas (also above right) presents Bella Vista Property Owners' Association board member Herb Thomas with a Firewise coffee table book and plaque.)