The home of Joe and Nancy Norton was selected the Arkansas FireWise Home of the Month for December 2007. The home is located on Red Oak Ridge, above Lake Hamilton near the Garvan Woodland Gardens, and falls within the Lake Hamilton Fire Protection District. The home was nominated by David Samuel, Arkansas FireWise Coordinator, following a visit to Garland County.
Joe Norton retired from Alcoa approximately 2 1/2 years ago, and the couple purchased the 5 1/2-acre tract because of the beautiful wooded area along the ridge. The home is constructed of brick with a composition shingle roof, and is surrounded by a well-maintained defensible space.
A wildland fire burned on the east side of the tract a few years ago, which encouraged the Norton's to maintain their landscape with wildfire mitigation in mind. At the time these photos were taken, Mr. Norton was burning a pile of logs in the area on the east side of the home, and he shared his plans to thin out the pine saplings on the southeast corner of the property, thus eventually extending his defensible space to the property line in all directions.
"This is one of the best model FireWise homes that we have selected," said David Samuel. "Thanks to Joe and Nancy for letting us use this outstanding FireWise home as a model in the Lake Hamilton Fire District."
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This picture taken by Mara Kuhn of Hot Springs Sentinel-Record appeared in the March 16 edition of the newspaper. Pictured left to right are Matt Simpson, Fire Chief of the Lake Hamilton Fire Department; Joe and Nancy Norton of the Red Oak Community; and Chad Noles, Arkansas Forestry Commission County Ranger. |
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