Polk County

FireWise Boards

The Polk County FireWise Board was organized at the courthouse in Mena on March 18, 2004. The board elected three officers — Eric Smith, chairman; Steve Jurina, vice chairman, and Kenny Miller, secretary.

Attending the meeting were David James, U.S. Forest Service; Randy Carter, U.S. Forest Service; Paul Tankersley, U.S. Forest Service; Steve Jurina, Queen Wilhelmina State Park; Lynn Vanderveer, Polk County OEM Coordinator; Eric Smith, AFC County Ranger, and 25 firefighters from across Polk County — Lonnie Murphy, Bessie Murphy, Raymond Hayward, Peter Halbe, Gerald Brewer, Curt Boyd, Robert Hutcheson, Henry Hankins, Dan Hostetler, Paul Arthodelles, Larry Lay, Brian Peters, Aaron White, Kathy Frachisen, Linda Gillaspy, Jim Alexander, Lu Alexander, Curtis Kelley, Ronnie Falls, Terry Terrell, Debbie Huff, Kenny Miller, Chad Fields, James Reeves and Steve Egger.

Risk assessment training was conducted March 30, 2004 at Queen Wilhelmina State Park, and on May 20, 2004 and Jan. 19, 2006 at Rich Mountain Community College in Mena.

Participants at the 2006 training were James Reeves, Polk County DEM Coordinator; Gerald Brewer, Dallas Valley VFD Chief; Glenn Pierce, Dallas Valley VFD Director; Ronnie Murphy, Potter VFD Chief; Bessie Murphy, Potter VFD Director; Brian Peters, Shady Grove VFD Director; Kenny Miller, Hatfield VFD Assistant Fire Chief, a Hatfield firefighter and Eric Smith, AFC Polk County Ranger.