Dallas Valley

Recognized Firewise Community/USA

The Dallas Valley Firewise board was formed March 18, 2004. The community earned Firewise Communities/USA recognition on Dec. 4, 2006, and a luncheon and recognition ceremony was held Dec. 14, 2006, in the Garden View Room of the Clinton Presidential Library. Accepting a plque and highway signs on behalf of the community were Glenn Pearce, Dallas Valley President of the Board of Directors, and Gerald Brewer, Dallas Valley Fire Chief. Also pictured are John Shannon, State Forester; Eric Smith, Polk County Ranger; Michele Steinberg, Firewise Communities Support Manager, and Don McBride, Assistant State Forester-Protection.

The Dallas Valley Firewise board formed from the original Polk County Firewise board. Dallas Valley Firewise board members are Eric Smith, chair; Steve Jurina, vice chair; Kenny Miller, secretary; Gerald Brewer and Jamie Reeves. Members attended the risk assessment training held Jan. 19, 2006, at Rich Mountain Community College in Mena.

For its first Firewise project, the Dallas Valley Fire Department hosted an open house and provided copies of "Living with Wildfire: A Guide for Arkansas Homeowners," to residents, and explained their home's wildfire risk and how to reduce their risk rating.