Benton County

FireWise Boards

In the fall of 2003, three Firewise boards representing different corners of Benton County were formed. Later, the retirement community of Bella Vista Village formed its own board and became a recognized Firewise Community/USA in November 2005.

The Southwest Benton County Firewise board was organized on Oct. 13, 2003, at the Siloam Springs fire station. Attending were Todd Colvin, board chair, Siloam Springs FD Fire Marshal; Don Lawson, secretary, Gallatin FD Fire Chief; Norman Barker, vice-chair, Gentry FD Fire Chief; Rob Holland, Highfill FD Assistant Fire Chief; George Stowe-Rains, AFC County Ranger; Dennis Spear, AFC County Ranger; Larry Nance, Deputy State Forester, and David Samuel, Arkansas FireWise Coordinator. Other Southwest Benton County Firewise board members included Gary Black, Benton County Judge; Keith Ferguson, Benton County Sheriff; Marshall Watson, Benton County CENCOM Coordinator, and Gerald Hodges, Benton County DEM Coordinator. (Photo at left)

Members of the original Northeast Benton County Firewise board were Frank Rizzio, chair, Pea Ridge Fire Chief; Kevin Eads, vice-chair, Pea Ridge NMP Park Ranger; Adam Norman, secretary/treasurer, Avoca firefighter/EMT; Frankie Elliott, Avoca Fire Chief; Rob Taylor, NE Benton County FD Fire Chief; Tom Good, Little Flock Fire Chief; Kevin Monroe, Fire Chief; Gary Black, Benton County Judge; Keith Ferguson, Benton County Sheriff; Marshall Watson, Benton County CENCOM Director; Gerald Hodges, Benton County DEM Coordinator; George Stowe-Rains, AFC County Ranger; Tom Odell, Avoca Mayor; Bobby Flickenger, Garfield Mayor, and Jackie Crabtree, Pea Ridge Mayor. (Photo at right)

Southeast Benton County Fire Departments completed the Arkansas Woodland Home Forest Fire Hazard Risk Assessment Training on Aug. 13, 2003 at the Prairie Creek Association Community Center. Firewise board members included Denver West, chair, Hobbs State Park Ranger; George Stowe-Rains, vice-chair, AFC County Ranger; Andy Jaeger, secretary/treasurer, Beaver Lake Fire Chief; Rick Polakowski, Piney Point Fire Chief; David Kirgar, Rocky Branch Fire Chief; Robert Fenten, Hickory Creek Fire Chief; Kevin Monroe, Highway 94 East Fire Chief; Perry Potts, Pleasure Heights Fire Chief; Jim Mayer, Perry, Butcher & Associates Architect; Gary Black, Benton County Judge; Keith Ferguson, Benton County Sheriff; Marshall Watson, Benton County 911 Coordinator, and Gerald Hodges, Benton County OES Coordinator. (Photo at left)