Benton County

FireWise Boards

In the fall of 2003, three FireWise boards representing different corners of Benton County were formed. Later, the retirement community of Bella Vista formed its own board and became a certified Arkansas FireWise Community in November 2005.

The Southwest Benton County FireWise Board was organized on Oct. 13, 2003 at the Siloam Springs fire station. Attending were Todd Colvin, Siloam Springs FD Fire Marshal, FireWise board chair; Don Lawson, Gallatin FD Chief, FireWise board secretary; Norman Barker, Gentry FD Chief, FireWise board vice-chair; Rob Holland, Highfill FD Assistant Fire Chief; George Stowe-Rains, AFC County Ranger; Dennis Spear, AFC County Ranger; Larry Nance, Deputy State Forester; and David Samuel, Arkansas FireWise Coordinator. Other Southwest Benton County FireWise board members are Gary Black, Benton County Judge; Keith Ferguson, Benton County Sheriff; Marshall Watson, Benton County CENCOM Coordinator, and Gerald Hodges, Benton County DEM Coordinator.

Members of the Northeast Benton County FireWise board are Frank Rizzio, Pea Ridge VFD Chief, board chair; Kevin Eads, Pea Ridge NMP Park Ranger, vice-chair; Adam Norman, Avoca VFD firefighter/EMT, secretary/treasurer; Frankie Elliott, Avoca VFD Chief; Rob Taylor, NE Benton County FD Chief; Tom Good, Little Flock FD; Kevin Monroe, VFD Chief; Gary Black, Benton County Judge; Keith Ferguson, Benton County Sheriff; Marshall Watson, Benton County CENCOM Director; Gerald Hodges, Benton County DEM Coordinator; George Stowe-Rains, AFC County Ranger; Tom Odell, Avoca Mayor; Bobby Flickenger, Garfield Mayor, and Jackie Crabtree, Pea Ridge Mayor.

Southeast Benton County Fire Departments completed the Arkansas Woodland Home Forest Fire Hazard Risk Assessment Training on Aug. 13, 2003 at the Prairie Creek Association Community Center. Board Members are Denver West, Hobbs State Park Ranger, board chair; George Stowe-Rains, AFC County Ranger, vice-chair; Andy Jaeger, Beaver Lake FD Chief, secretary/treasurer; Rick Polakowski, Piney Point VFD Chief; David Kirgar, Rocky Branch VFD Chief; Robert Fenten, Hickory Creek FD Chief; Kevin Monroe, Highway 94 East VFD Chief; Perry Potts, Pleasure Heights VFD Chief; Jim Mayer, Perry Butcher & Assoc. Architect; Gary Black, Benton County Judge; Keith Ferguson, Benton County Sheriff; Marshall Watson, Benton County 911 Coordinator, and Gerald Hodges, Benton County OES Coordinator.