Joplin

Certified Firewise Community/USA

On October 23, 2007, Joplin 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 were Bob Bochik, Tera Bochik, Glen Mayle, Ken Mattson, Bill Barnes, Colleen Helms, Debi Barnes and Rita Arnett.

Leadership for the Joplin FireWise board comes from its motivated and well-equipped volunteer fire department. The photographs below are from a March 2005 mitigation project designed to make this woodland residence more resistant to wildfires. Lower on the page are photos of the 2004 mitigation project and training from 2003. Joplin is also featured on the national www.firewise.org web site.

Bill Barnes of Mountain Harbor Resort is also the Joplin Fire Chief. Barnes hosted the Arkansas FireWise Team for the Wildland Fire School and a FireWise lecture in February 2003 at Mountain Harbor Resort. The Joplin Volunteer Fire Department has some very interesting equipment, including a fireboat.

The Joplin Volunteer Fire Department's December 2004 FireWise mitigation project (below) helped a female resident who lives alone. The team cleaned and cleared a zone around house, removing rotted firewood and other building materials. They also piled and burned leaves and forest debris and cleaned the roof valleys and gutters. Fifteen FireWise volunteers each gave four hours each to help keep their community FireWise.

Wanda Eckhardt of Mount Ida received FireWise assistance from 12 Joplin Volunteer Fire Department firefighters on March 13, 2005. JVFD members cleaned fuel such as leaves and dead limbs, cut out brush and smaller bushes from the defensive perimeter, inspected and cleaned the roof and gutter areas, and lit a back fire create a defensive barrier between the residence and the woodlands using chain saws, limb saws, blowers, and hand tools. Thanks to Terry Beavers, Kenn Greene, Larry Chastain, Jan Chastain, Bob Lane, Ann Greene, Ken Mattson, David Spears, Bob Matthews, Jake Ingoglia, Bill Barnes, and Debi Barnes for this excellent FireWise community mitigation project.

On Oct. 26, 2006, a Regional Federal Review Team visited the Joplin Community to learn how residents have benefited from the Firewise program. During their visit, David Samuel, Arkansas FireWise Coordinator, presented Joplin with an Arkansas FireWise Community banner (photo above) for use during Firewise projects or community events.

On April 16, 2007, the Bunny Lester, Larry Chastain and Jan Chastain, all of the Joplin Fire Department, participated in a prescribed burn to reduce the risk around four homes. The burn began at 9:30 a.m. and wrapped up around 2 p.m. Fire engines were also on site in case they were needed.

Mitigation Projects

December 2004

April 2007

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During

After