Holiday Island

Certified Firewise Community/USA

On Oct. 23, 2007, Holiday Island was recognized for its fifth year of Firewise Community/USA participation during a luncheon and recognition ceremony held in the banquet hall of Mount Magazine State Park Lodge. Accepting a plaque presented by Governor Mike Beebe are Jack Deaton, fire chief; Connie Deaton and Tony Siciliano, firefighter and Arkansas FireWise consultant.

Jack Deaton and Tony Siciliano were also guest speakers during the morning session of Firewise on the Mountain. Jack Deaton spoke about the Firewise effort in Holiday Island, and the efforts of the fire department homeowners in reducing the wildfire risk to homes in the community. Tony spoke about his work with rural communities in Carroll and Boone Counties as an Arkansas FireWise consultant.

Holiday Island became a certified Firewise Community/USA on Dec. 18, 2003. The community is perched above Beaver Lake in Carroll County.

Holiday Island FireWise board members include Jack Deaton, Holiday Island Fire Chief; Jim Phillips, homeowner; Jackie Phillips, homeowner; Harley Barnum, Holiday Island Board of Commissioners member; David Blackford, Holiday Island Homeowners Association; Rosemary Bushay, Holiday Island Chamber of Commerce; Kevin Crosson, Holiday Island Planning Committee; Kenny Dehart, Holiday Island Roads Superintendent; Tom Dugger, Carroll County OES Coordinator; Ed Robertson, Carroll County Judge; Chuck Medford, Carroll County Sheriff; Darrell Bohannon, Arkansas Forestry Commission Carroll County Ranger; Greg Oller, U.S. Corps of Engineers/Chief, Nat. Resources; Ron Eiler, real estate agent; Rob Knapp, real estate agent; Pamela Fuller, insurance agent, and Charles Morrison, architect.

To reduce fuel loading in their community, the fire department hosts chipper days every Wednesday from March to November. Photos of the community's mitigation project can be viewed below.

In September 2005, the home of Melvin and Edna Cassidy of Holiday Island was selected the FireWise Home of the Month. Jim Smalley of Quincy, Mass., wildland fire protection manager of the National Fire Protection Association along with Holiday Island Fire Chief presented their certificate.

On Oct. 25, 2006, Holiday Island representatives hosted a PowerPoint presentation for the Regional Federal Review Team touring Arkansas to assess the impact the Firewise program has had on communities in Arkansas. Following the presentation, team members were able to see the community's successful chipper project in action.

Mitigation Project