Fairfield Bay

Recognized Firewise Community/USA

Fairfield Bay earned Firewise Communities/USA recognition in November 2007. A luncheon and recognition ceremony was held Nov. 27 in the Fireside Room of the Indian Hills Country Club in Fairfield Bay. Fairfield Bay is the 67th community in Arkansas to earn Firewise Communities/USA recognition.

John Cook said he is grateful to the Arkansas Forestry Commission, David Samuel, Dr. Kelly Hurt and all of the Fairfield Bay Firewise board members for their efforts in achieving this recognition.

Firewise board members present posed for a quick photo following the recognition ceremony. Pictured at right are Dr. Kelly Hurt, Arkansas FireWise Consultant; Scott Youngblood, AFC County Forester; Steve Sutay, Fairfield Bay Planning and Zoning Committee; Patsy Weidanz, Fairfield Bay Community Club board member; John Cook Fairfield Bay Fire Chief; Rose Owen, Fairfield Bay City Recorder/Treasurer, and Dan Feuer, Fairfield Bay News Managing Editor (photo at right). Board members not pictured are Christine Lang, Fairfield Bay Emergency Management Coordinator; Fairfield Bay Community Club members George Bruen, Chuck Lang, Sharon Boone, Carlene Barra, Bonnie Darnall and Terry Blankenship, and Fairfield Bay Mayor Tom Schueren.

Accepting a plaque presented by State Forester John Shannon were Fire Chief John Cook and Mayor Tom Schueren (photo at left).

Prior to the recognition ceremony, John Cook said the board has received a good response so far from residents, and already, the number of fires this fall are down considerably from previous years.

"I believe the public education conducted as part of the Firewise recognition process has helped ing etting the word out, and I have hope that our efforts will continue in keeping the number of grass and brush fires down," Cook said.

Don McBride, Assistant State Forester-Protection, presented the Firewise Communities/USA highway signs to John Cook and Tom Schueren (photo at right).

On Sept. 12, 2006, Arkansas FireWise Coordinator David Samuel and FireWise Consultant Dr. Kelly Hurt presented information about Firewise Communities/USA to the community of Fairfield Bay.

Community representatives attending the initial meeting were John Cook, Fairfield Bay Fire Chief; Rose Owen, City of Fairfield Bay Recorder/Treasurer; Chris Lang, Fairfield Bay Emergency Management Coordinator; Dan Feuer, Fairfield Bay News Managing Editor, and Community Club members George Bruer, president; Rupert Robertson, vice president; Sharon Boone, assistant to the general manager; Chuck Lane, treasurer; John Tyler, utilities; Carlene Barra, Bonnie Duvall, Terry Blankenship and Patsy Weidanz.

On Oct. 20, 2007, Fairfield Bay hosted its first Firewise Day at the Fairfield Bay Fire Department. Area residents were treated to a free lunch of hot wings, homemade fries, coleslaw and more while they learned about their home's wildfire risk. FireWise Consultant Dr. Kelly Hurt, Arkansas Forestry Commission Information Officer Christina Fowler, Fire Chief John Cook and a number of volunteer firefighters were onhand to explain to homeowners simple steps to protect their homes from wildland fire. A map of the oveerall wildland fire risk in Fairfield Bay was also on display.

Prior to the open house, members of the Firewise board reviewed the final copy of the Fairfield Bay Community Wildfire Protection Plan (photo at left).

Fairfield Bay was developed in 1968, and incorporated in 1993. It has a population of 2,460 (2000 Census) that enjoys the breathtaking views of the Ozark Mountains and Greers Ferry Lake. Approximately 900 homes are located in the wildland/urban interface environment that includes steep topography (low elevation at 487 feet, high elevation at 1,249 feet).

More information about Fairfield Bay can be found by visiting the web sites www.ffbchamber.org and www.ffbcommunityclub.com.