Bald Knob

Certified Firewise Community/USA

The Bald Knob FireWise Board was formed July 12, 2006. The community became a certified Firewise Community in November 2006. A luncheon and recognition ceremony was held Dec. 14, 2006 in the Garden View Room of the Clinton Presidential Library. Accepting a plaque and highway signs on behalf of the community was Danny Holobaugh, Bald Knob Fire Chief. Also pictured are John Shannon, State Forester; Lowell Altom, Ranger II-White County; Glen Fortenberry, Fire Team Leader, Ouachita & Ozark-St. Francis National Forest; Michele Steinberg, Firewise Communities Support Manager; and Don McBride, Assistant State Forester-Protection.

Those attending the initial FireWise meeting in Bald Knob were: Danny Holobaugh, fire chief; Larry Guthrie, assistant fire chief; Phillip Strickland, assistant fire chief; Travis Morris, captain; Toby Dallas, captain; Charles Hattabaugh, secretary/treasurer; Kevin Smith, firefighter; Chris Calhoun, firefighter; Brook Bewley, firefighter; Tony Comen, firefighter; Darren Gordon, firefighter; Gary Gordon, firefighter; Barry Cooley, firefighter; Danny Pruett, firefighter; Lynn Solida, firefighter; Bob Carpenter, City of Bald Knob alderman and Johnny Hodges, City of Bald Knob alderman and retired fire department member.

For their first Firewise Day, the fire department hosted an open house during which residents could find out about their wildfire hazard risk rating, and learn ways to reduce the risk.