September 2007

The home of John Nietert on Pilot Mountain, south of Caulksville in Logan County, has been selected the September Arkansas FireWise Home of the Month. The home was nominated by David Samuel, Arkansas FireWise Coordinator.

The home rated low risk due to several factors. The home is not located at the top of the bluff, but rather below on a northern slope with small hardwoods. Nietert built a good road with an adequate turnaround for emergency vehicles. The home has a metal roof, and although it is sided with wood logs, the home is surrounded by a good defensible space.

Nietert owns the entire mountain on which his home is located, and he expressed an interest in contracting with the Arkansas Forestry Commission to conduct a control burn in the spring, and get on a rotation of burning every three to four years. Mr. Nietert is also a member of the Ratcliff Rural Fire Department.