Hot Spring County

FireWise Boards

The Arkansas FireWise Team first visited Hot Spring County in September 2004 and presented the Firewise Communities/USA process at a gathering at the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management in Malvern. Attending were Bismarck Assistant Fire Chief Lonnie Treadway, Bonnerdale Assistant Fire Chief Ray Schellhammer, Glen Rose Fire and Rescue Lieutenant Ezell Simmons, New DeRoche Volunteer Fire Department President John Nannemann, New De Roche Volunteer Fire Department Secretary/Treasurer Leslie Burris, Ouachita Fire Department Chief Edward Jones, Southwest fire Department Assistant Chief C.C. McDonald, Southwest Fire Department Vice President Wendell Allen, Southwest Fire Department Captain Frank Perry, home builder Duanne Sowell, Hot Spring County ADEM Coordinator Kelly Hodges and Arkansas Forestry Commission Hot Spring County Ranger Roger Jones.

Arkansas FireWise returned to Hot Spring County in February 2006 and organized the Diamondhead FireWise Board.

On Feb. 5, 2007, a meeting was held with members of the Ouachita Fire Department in Midway at the fire station, thanks to Roger Jones, Hot Spring County Ranger, and Stewart Norris of the Ouachita Volunteer Fire Department (photo above).

"It was a very good meeting with many of the firefighters speaking up in support of joining the Arkansas FireWise Team," said David Samuel, Arkansas FireWise Coordinator. Roger Jones plans to conduct risk assessment training in the near future.

Attending the meeting were: Brian Rickman, fire chief; Doyle Carmon, assistant chief; Stewart Norris, firefighter; Dustin Burnett, firefighter; Douglas Rushers, firefighter; Tim Mitchell, firefighter; Trent Lewis, firefighter; Aaron Johnson, firefighter, Bill Norwood, firefighter; Roger Jones and David Samuel.

The Ouachita Fire District includes three communities along Highway 67 (Donaldson, Friendship and Midway) with the Ouachita River splitting the district.

Donaldson Community Photos

Friendship Community Photos

Midway Community Photos