Firewise Recognition Day

State Capitol 2005

More than 100 community leaders and volunteer firefighters from 27 communities across the state came together in Little Rock on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2005, to be recognized by Lt. Governor Winthrop Paul Rockefeller, a former firefighter with the Petit Jean Mountain Volunteer Fire Department, and the Arkansas Forestry Commission for their efforts in making Arkansas the leading state in the national Firewise Communities/USA program. At the time, Arkansas led the nation with 34 certified Firewise Communities and Perry County was the leader in the state with nine.

Members of several FireWise boards and AFC personnel took time to have their picture taken on the grounds of the State Capitol following the recognition ceremony (left).

Communities certified in 2004 include: 250, Adona, Centerville, Cherry Hill, Danville, Dutch Creek, Harris Brake, Hartman, Hollis, Houston, Hunt, Inspiration Point, Ludwig-Lakewood, Lutherville-Holman, Mt. George, Nella, Nimrod, Norphlet, Ozark, Perry, Plainview, Strickler, Thornburg, Wedington and Williams Junction.

Devils Den and Queen Wilhelmina State Parks, which contain small residential communities, were also recognized as Arkansas FireWise Communities.

More than 250 of the 930 fire departments in Arkansas have been trained by the Arkansas Forestry Commission to assess wildland fire risks to homes in the Wildland/Urban Interface areas of their fire districts. Communities and volunteer fire departments have received nearly $350,000 to help with assessment projects, completion of mitigation projects and to purchase the necessary equipment called for in their plans. Equipment included items such as chippers, chainsaws, brush cutters, limb saws, leaf blowers, fire rakes, Pulaskis, shovels, drip torches, ropes, ladders and personal protective equipment.

Communities in Jefferson, Franklin, Logan, Scott, Benton, Washington, Madison, Garland, Yell, Prairie, Jackson, White, Crawford, Lafayette, Lonoke, Cross, Carroll, Lee, Phillips, Sharp, Arkansas, Poinsett, Hot Spring, Sebastian, Pike, Pope, Marion, Columbia, Union and Baxter Counties have created FireWise boards and are conducting risk assessments and developing FireWise plans to become certified.