Pike County

FireWise Boards

Langley, Lodi, Daisy meeting Sept. 10, 2007

Billy Williams, Pike County Ranger, organized a successful meeting Sept. 10, 2007, at the Langley Fire Department. He had originally hoped to bring in the community of Langley, but was pleasantly surprised when Lodi and Daisy decided to join the meeting.

Representatives from Camp Albert Pike also attended, and expressed an interest in becoming a Firewise Community/USA. They are located just across the Montgomery County Line – six miles from Langley – and are served by the Langley Volunteer Fire Department.

After a catfish dinner provided by the Langley VFD, an introduction to Arkansas FireWise and Risk Assessment Training was conducted. Upon completion of the presentation, three Firewise boards were organized and officers elected.

Attending the meeting were Bob Lewis, Langley VFD Fire Chief; Donnie Cowart, Langley VFD Assistant Fire Chief; Lynda Lewis, Langley VFD; Melanie Cowart, Langley VFD; Gene Cowart, Langley VFD; Wayman Powell, Langley VFD; Lee Roy Arivett, Langley VFD; Dale Thornton, Langley VFD; Emmitt White, Langley VFD; Roger York, Langley VFD; Eddy Ayers, Langley VFD; Charlotte Ayers, Langley VFD; John Jones, Langley VFD; Greg Faught, Daisy VFD Fire Chief; Doris Faught, Daisy VFD; Josh Bowen, Daisy VFD; Scottie Frazier, Daisy VFD; Becky Frazier, Daisy VFD; Frances Frazier, Daisy VFD; Wayne Frazier, Daisy VFD; Verl Stovall, Lodi VFD Fire Chief; Mike Cowart, Lodi VFD Assistant Fire Chief; Chris Thompson, Lodi VFD; Bret Reid, Lodi VFD; Denver McRae, Camp Albert Pike Manager; Janice McRae, Camp Albert Pike Manager; Bill Paxton, Camp Albert Pike; Sharon Paxton, Camp Albert Pike; Billy Williams, Pike County Ranger; Danny Crews, AFC Ranger II: Jeff Jones, AFC Ranger II, and David Samuel, Arkansas FireWise Coordinator.

Langley Firewise board members are Linda Lewis, chairperson; Bob Lewis, Donnie Cowart, Eddie Ayers, Janice McRae and Brian Pounds (Albert Pike area).

Lodi Firewise board members are Verl Stoval, chairperson; Bret Reid, Chris Thompson and Mike Cowart.

Daisy Firewise board members are Becky Frazier, chairperson; Scotty Frazier, Josh Bowen, Greg Faught and Doris Faught.

On Sept. 1, 2007, the Langley Firewise board hosted a Firewise Educational booth and passed out copies of Living with Wildfire: A Guide for Arkansas Homeowners during their annual fundraiser (photo at left).

Pike County Organizes Firewise Board

The communities of Pike County, Arkansas organized their FireWise Board at a special meeting of the Fire Chiefs' meeting at Kirby High School. Those who attended are at left. Although the U. S. Forest Service and Arkansas State Parks were invited but did not attend, it was agreed to ask them to name a representative on the Pike County FireWise Board. Original board members were Steve Conly, chair, ADEM County Coordinator; Joe House, vice-chair, Delight VFD Chief; Billy Williams, AFC Ranger II; Gary Wright, Glenwood FD Chief; Chris Garner, Glenwood FD Assistant Chief; Raymond Walls, Murfreesboro FD Chief; Mike Haggard, Kirby VFD Chief; Steve Risner, Kirby VFD Captain; Mike Gadbury, New Hope VFD Chief; Sandra Hunt, New Hope VFD; Joe House, Delight VFD Chief; Veri Stovall, Lodi VFD Chief; Mike Putz, Lodi VFD; Roger York, Langley VFD Chief; Mike Penson, Daisy VFD; Rob Gillingham, Nathan VFD Training Officer; Ray Taylor, Pike County 911 Coordinator; Avonne Petty, Extension Service 4-H Program Assistant; Teresa Morris, Arkansas Department of Health Rural Health Specialist; Kenneth Forga, Lake Greeson Park Ranger; James Pedron, Lake Greeson Park Ranger, and John Hamilton AFC County Forester.

Antoine, Delight meeting July 20, 2006

On July 20, 2006, a meeting was held in the Antoine Community Center to organize FireWise Boards in Antoine and Delight. Following the organizational meeting, the group trained to conduct risk assessments. Attending the meeting were Russel Barton, Antoine Mayor; David Hendrix, Antoine City Council member; Vance Teel, Antoine Fire Chief; Hesston Teel, Antoine FD; Paul Lane, Delight alderman and mayoral candidate; Michael Delaney, Delight Fire Chief; Chris Goodson, Delight FD; Billy Williams, AFC County Ranger, and David Samuel, Arkansas FireWise Coordinator.

Two other Antoine firefighters attended part of the meeting, but were dispatched to a drowning on the Little Missouri River.

Other communities to be assessed and candidates for FireWise Communities are Billstown, Pisgah and Meek.

In July, the Antoine Fire Department completed a Firewise mitigation project as part of their effort to achieve Firewise Communities/USA certification.

Vance Teel, Antoine VFD Fire Chief, submitted a letter to the Arkansas Forestry Commission's Rural Fire Program in which he shared how the Firewise program has benefitted residents in Antoine and Meeks Settlement.

"The Antoine Fire Department has a few firefighters from the Meeks Settlement on the fire department. Due to the Firewise program, more people from the Meeks Settlement have come forward asking to join the department. They want to learn more. The community is coming together. One resident has offered his heated work garage to hosue the fire truck until funding can be found to build housing for the truck. The Firewise program has brought both communities, the Meeks Settlement and Antoine, closer together. The residents of both are working together to improve the community and to ensure the safety of each and every resident. ...

"I would also like to say 'thank you' from the Antoine Volunteer Fire Department. The Arkansas Forestry Commission has gone above and beyond in assisting us. Mr. Billy Williams and Danny have been a lot of support for us. We can not thank them enough. We will always be ready to assist you whenever the need arises. Once again, 'thank you' for helping the Meeks Settlement and the Antoine Volunteer Fire Department. The Firewise program has brought two communities together and for that, we also 'thank you.' The Firewise program has helped show us places that needed attention not only in the community but in our equipment and in ourselves. It has brought both communities closer together and built awareness and support for the fire department."

On a side note, Arkansas FireWise Coordinator David Samuel stopped by the home of G.W. "Punkins" Campbell in Billstown. Mr. Campbell, the brother of Glen Campbell, is pictured standing in front of his tomato plants with a copy of an Arkansas FireWise Homeowners Guide. He proudly proclaims his home has adequate defensive space and strongly endorses the Arkansas FireWise team's effort to teach homeowners in Pike County how to reduce the risk from wildland fires.