January's Arkansas FireWise Home of the Month is owned by W.T. "Sonny" Barkhimer in the Silver community west of Hot Springs. Barkhimer is retired after a long career with the U.S. Forest Service, and his home shows his working knowledge of fire safety.

The home has the latest in fire-safe metal roofs, and has fire-resistant siding. The landscape shows the positive effects of clearing ladder fuel from around the house and creating a clear defensible space. The outbuildings are also carefully separated from the main house.