Hot Springs

Certified Firewise Community/USA

Hot Springs became a certified Firewise Community/USA Oct. 18, 2006. A luncheon and recognition ceremony was held Dec. 5, 2006, at the Hot Springs Central Fire Station. Guests included FireWise board members and representatives from the Lake Hamilton Fire Department, Hot Springs Fire Department, U.S. Forest Service and the Arkansas Forestry Commission, as well as city and county leaders.

 The Hot Springs FireWise Board was organized in February 2006, after the town experienced a close call from the January 2006 West Mountain Fire. Board members include Chairman Nathan Schanlaber, James Ingram, Ben Oneal, Steve Freeman, Peggy Maruther-Brunner, Ted Smethers, Mark Shuffield, Ed Davis, Andy Dyer and Bill Howard.

Dr. Kelly Hurt, Arkansas FireWise consultant, spent nine months working with the Hot Springs Fire Department, city leaders, and representatives from the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service and Arkansas Forestry Commission, to conduct wildfire hazard assessments and develop a plan to address safety concerns.

 On June 22, the Hot Springs FireWise board met at the Hot Springs Central Fire Station to review the recently completed risk assessments of homes in the Wildland/Urban Interface areas of the city. The board also reviewed and discussed a draft Community Wildfire Protection plan.

“The Hot Springs Fire Department defined the homes in the wildland/urban interface using local knowledge of past wildland fire occurrence (West Mountain Fire January 2006 pictured at left), topography and vegetation. The homes included in the study generally lie on the outskirts of Hot Springs,” Hurt said. “In general, these homes were found to be at moderate risk from wildfires. Three of the more important factors were amount of vegetation present near homes, the lack of defensible space between homes and vegetation and flammable exterior construction.”

 “Wildland fires occur in Hot springs on an annual basis,” Hurt added. “Although these fires are not normally large, they do occur. Wildland fires have threatened homes, particularly in Hot Springs where undeveloped National Park Service and private forest lands border much of the historic Hot Springs District and outlying development areas.”

The  completed wildfire risk assessments for Hot Springs were made available for residents to view online at www.ci.hot-springs.ar.us/pdfs/fire/firewise_list.htm, and at the Hot Springs Business Expo on Aug. 10, 2006, where residents were also provided a copy of “Living with Wildfire: A Guide for Arkansas Homeowners.”

Left: Hot Springs was presented a plaque, highway signs and a Firewise Communities/USA kit during a luncheon and recognition ceremony Dec. 5, 2006, at the Hot Springs Central Fire Station. Pictured are: Norm Wagoner, Forest Supervisor-Ouachita National Forest; Kent A. Myers, City Manager; Terry Smith, Arkansas Senator, Dist. 19; Ted Smethers, Entergy and Hot Springs FireWise board member; Nathan Schanlaber, Hot Springs Fire Marshal; Peggy Maruther-Brunner, City Director; Mike Bush, Mayor; Don McBride, Assistant State Forester-Protection, Arkansas Forestry Commission; Ed Davis, Fire Chief; Larry Nance, Deputy State Forester, Arkansas Forestry Commission.

Left: Pictured are the Hot Springs FireWise members who attended the June 22 meeting. Not pictured are Mark Reed and David Samuel of the Arkansas Forestry Commission.

Right: The Hot Springs FireWise board was organized February 2006. Board members include (not in order) Nathan Schanlaber, James Ingram, Ben Oneal, Steve Freeman, Peggy Brunner-Maruther, Ted Smethers, Mark Shuffield, Ed Davis, Andy Dyer and Bill Howard.

Left: Dr. Kelly Hurt explains the results of risk assessments in the Wildland/Urban interface areas of Hot Springs. Right: The Hot Springs FireWise board met June 22 to review the recently completed risk assessments provided by Dr. Kelly Hurt, and discuss a draft Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

Left: Dr. Kelly Hurt explains the Fuels Loading Map to a resident of Hot Springs during the Hot Springs Business Expo.

According to the Hot Springs Convention & Visitor's Bureau, Hot Springs National Park was the first federally protected in the nation's history. Hot Springs National Park features a rich history and a variety of architecture, not to mention the 147 degree thermal water.