Hot Springs Village
Recognized Firewise Community/USA
Hot Springs Village earned Firewise Community/USA Recognition in October 2007. A recognition ceremony was held Monday, Oct. 15, 2007, in the Crystal Dining Room on the Good Samaritan Campus in Hot Springs Village.
Accepting the plaque on behalf of the Hot Springs Village community were Janice Morrison, Firewise committee co-chair; Henry Browder, Firewise committee co-chair and POA lakes and water management committee, and Hot Springs Village Property Owners Association Board Chair Dick Breckon. Presenting the plaques were Jim Smalley, National Firewise Communities Program Manager; John Shannon, State Forester, and State Representative Dan Greenberg, District 31. (Photo at right)
"Hot Springs Village represents a situation typical of much of the southeastern U.S. - a rapidly growing community located in a forested setting with each new day finding additional homes being built in an ever-expanding wildland/urban interface," said Dr. Kelly Hurt, Arkansas FireWise consultant. "The challenge here, as everywhere, is to establish a dynamic Firewise board capable of maintaining a sustained outreach program to educate homeowners on practical, inexpensive and proactive steps that can be taken to protect their homes, property and perhaps, even their lives. The Hot Springs Village Firewise committee has done an outstanding job of educating themselves about the issues related to living in the wildland/urban interface. Subsequently, they have shown themselves to be adept at transferring this education to others in the community"
Attending the ceremony were State Representative Dan Greenberg, District 31; Property Owners Association board members Dick Breckon, chair; Bob Shoemaker, vice chair; Mike Misch, Teri Jackson and Jeff Atkins; POA General Manager Dave Johnston; POA Assistant to the General Manager Linda Mayhood; Firewise committee members Janice Morrison, co-chair; Henry Browder, co-chair and POA lakes and water management committee; Jim Gifford, POA trails committee; Carolyn Minson, POA trails committee; Bruce Caverly, POA natural resources committee; Bob Brandt, POA architectural control committee, and Lt. Ricky Middleton, Village public safety officer; Trails Committee Chair John Tidquist; Hot Springs Village Voice Reporter Jeff Meek; Arkansas Forestry Commission representatives David Samuel, Arkansas FireWise Coordinator; Christina Fowler, Information Officer; Don McBride, Assistant State Forester-Protection; Mark Reed, Fire Management Officer; Robert McFarland, Staff Forester, and John Shannon, State Forester; and National Firewise Communities Program Manager Jim Smalley.
The Hot Springs Village Firewise board was formed in February 2006. The original board members are Janice Morrison, co-chair; Henry Browder, co-chair; Bruce Caverly, Hank Deutsch, Jim Gifford, Bill Howard, AFC Saline County Ranger; Ricky Middleton, POA Public Safety Advisor; Carolyn Minson, Jeff Pickett, Kurt Radcliff, U.S. Forest Service; Ginna Watson, POA board liaison; and Greta Wolfe, POA liaison.
On Sept. 26, 2006, the Hot Springs Village Firewise board educated homeowners about the wildfire risk in their community by staffing the Arkansas Forestry Commission's FireWise exhibit during the annual Community Fair.
"Mr. Browder was not idle the entire time I was near the exhibit," said David Samuel, Arkansas FireWise Coordinator. "It appeared that the exhibit was a hit, and many homeowners picked up AFC FireWise Homeowner Guides."
Jeff Johnson, AFC Ranger II, assisted the group by setting up the exhibit the evening before and staffing the exhibit throughout the day. A number of Hot Springs Village Firewise board members also staffed the booth during the day. They included Carolyn Minson, Ginna Watson, Jim Gifford, Janice Morrison and Henry Browder (pictured at left).
On April 26, 2007, the Hot Springs Village Firewise board reviewed a draft version of the Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Board members discussed the results of the home risk assessments and proposed projects to reduce the wildland fire risk in the Village.
Following the meeting David Samuel presented the board with an Arkansas FireWise Communities banner.
On Sept. 26, 2007, the Hot Springs Village Firewise board once again hosted an exhibit during the annual Community Fair. At this time, residents were able to visit with board members to learn how their home rated and what steps they could take to reduce their overall wildfire risk rating (photo below).
