Firewise Leadership Awards

Tony and Patricia Siciliano of Arkansas FireWise recognized nationally for efforts to reduce wildfire risk

PARIS, ARK. -- Local Firewise consultants, Tony and Patricia Siciliano received a National Firewise Leadership Award recognizing their outstanding efforts in promoting a cooperative approach to reducing the loss of lives, property and resources in the wildland/urban interface. Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe announced the Siciliano's as winners of the Firewise Leadership Award during FireWise on the Mountain, a luncheon and recognition ceremony held Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007, at the Lodge at Mount Magazine State Park.

The Firewise Leadership Awards are designed to honor individuals and organizations conducting wildland fire mitigation activities in residential developments in the wildland/urban interface. Winners were selected based on their efforts on the local, state and regional level. Tony and Patricia Siciliano have been recognized for their extensive efforts spanning three counties in providing risk assessment training, assisting with community wildfire protection plans, organizing a Firewise educational event and mitigation project, and leading the communities' efforts to earn Firewise Communities/USA designation -- a national community recognition program.

"Pat and I are honored to be recognized," said Tony Siciliano. "Our reward was being given the opportunity of working with all these great communities. We've met so many great people. We've been very fortunate to be involved with fire departments and residents from Boone, Carroll and Madison Counties. During our work with them, we've been invited to numerous affairs, cookouts and meetings. We were welcomed in as friends and now we feel like we are part of their community family. We believe very strongly in the Firewise program and we hope that those we talked to will continue on making their homes and surrounding areas safe. ... Thank you for allowing us to be a small part of the Firewise program."

"Tony and Patricia Siciliano's enthusiasm and dedication to the Firewise program is evident through the increased Firewise awareness among Northwest Arkansas fire departments, community leaders and homeowners," said David Samuel, Arkansas FireWise coordinator.

All but two fire departments in Carroll County have received, or are working to receive, recognition as a Firewise Community.

Arkansas FireWise, a wildfire mitigation effort of the Arkansas Forestry Commission, receive a national award for Regional Firewise Leadership recognizing their outstanding efforts in the wildland/urban interface. Pictured are Dr. Kelly Hurt, FireWise consultant; Tommy Tiller, Fayetteville FireWise Board president; David Samuel, Arkansas FireWise Coordinator; Patricia Siciliano and Tony Siciliano, FireWise consultants.

Arkansas FireWise recognized nationally for efforts to reduce wildfire risk

DENVER, COLO. — Arkansas FireWise, a wildfire mitigation effort of the Arkansas Forestry Commission, received a Regional Firewise Leadership Award recognizing their outstanding efforts in promoting a cooperative approach to reducing the loss of lives, property and resources in the wildland/urban interface. The National Wildfire Coordinating Group's (NWCG) Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Working Team announced the winners of the Firewise Leadership Awards Nov. 3, 2006, at the National Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Education Conference, "Backyards and Beyond," in Denver.

"We are proud to have been selected a regional leader in reducing the wildfire risk for communities near forested areas," said John Shannon, State Forester of the Arkansas Forestry Commission. "This award recognizes the dedication of numerous Forestry Commission employees, as well as the hard work put forth by community leaders and fire department members throughout the state. We applaud these people for protecting homeowners in Arkansas from wildland fire."

The Firewise Leadership Awards are designed to honor individuals and organizations conducting wildland fire mitigation activities in residential developments adjacent to wildland areas, also known as the wildland/urban interface. Winners were selected based on their efforts on the local, state and regional level. The Arkansas FireWise team has been recognized for its ability to enlist the help of community leaders and local fire departments to assess their community's wildfire risk and take steps to mitigate that risk. Arkansas leads the nation in number of certified Firewise Communities (54), and more than 150 Firewise boards have been established in 42 counties.

"We congratulate these outstanding members of the fire community for their outstanding leadership and efforts to reduce effects that wildfires can have on communities in the wildland/urban interface," said Sam Scranton, chair of the NWCG's Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Working Team, which directs the national Firewise Communities program. "Our winners' efforts include exemplary work in communicating the Firewise message with residents, securing federal wildfire mitigation funds, and helping communities living in the WUI become Firewise Communities/USA sites. These individuals and organizations demonstrate the ideas behind the Firewise program, and illustrate the impact that individuals can have on an entire community, state or region of the country."

In addition to recognizing the winners, the Firewise Leadership Awards program helps program administrators capture success stories and share best practices across the country, between all types of interests — public, private and tribal. This year, over 30 individuals and organizations from across the country were nominated for their outstanding efforts. "We had a very difficult time deciding upon the winners of this year's awards," said Scranton. "Each of the nominees have performed invaluable work in their region, and we are grateful for their exceptional leadership and dedication to the Firewise Program."

The national Firewise Communities program is an interagency program designed to encourage local solutions for wildfire safety by involving homeowners, community leaders, planners, developers, firefighters and others in the effort to protect people and property from the risk of wildfire. The Firewise Communities program is sponsored by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group's Wildland/Urban Interface Working Team, a consortium of wildland fire agencies that include the USDA Forest Service, the Department of the Interior, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Emergency Management Association, the US Fire Administration, the National Association of State Fire Marshals, the National Fire Protection Association, and state forestry organizations. For more information, visit www.firewise.org.