Marion County

FireWise Boards

Marion County Fire Chiefs Association

"Thanks to Arnold 'Arnie' Hodel, President of the Marion County Fire Chiefs Association, and Carlos Parker, Marion County DEM Coordinator, for inviting me to their monthly meeting on June 15, 2004," said David Samuel, Arkansas FireWise Coordinator. "Mr. Hodel is also Fire Service Instructor Academy Certified. Also thanks to Pat Redding, association secretary/treasurer, for her great hospitality and for providing me a complete list of the fire departments and chiefs in Marion County."

Members of the Marion County Firewise board are Doug Van DeMark, Bull Shoals VFD Fire Chief; Richard Perry, Flippin FD Fire Chief; Dwayne McFarland, Summit VFD Fire Chief; Bill Evans, Yellville VFD Fire Chief; Mike Scrima, Oakland/Promise Land VFD Fire Chief; John Sontag, Pine Mountain VFD Fire Chief; Jack Otley, Peel RFD Fire Chief; Mark Ezell, Bruno FPD Fire Chief; Chuck Copeland, Pyatt F&D Fire Chief; Anton Such, Ralph-Caney FD Fire Chief; Wayne Burleigh, Lakeway FD Fire Chief; Brad McGee, Rea Valley VFD Fire Chief; Dave Spina, Fairview VFD Fire Chief; Larry Cadenbach, Lazy Acres VFD Fire Chief, and Herb O'Brian, Lead Hill FD.

These fire departments are the core of the board along with the association officers. It was recommended that the County Judge, Mayors and/or city council representatives, National Park Service representatives, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers representatives and the Arkansas Forestry Commission County Ranger be included on the board.

The next step was to schedule a date for wildland fire risk assessment training.

"Marion County has a tremendous number of homes in the wildland/urban interface. The entire community of Cotter was located on a bluff line above the White River with homes dotting the top of the mountains. These fire chiefs recognize the need to educate these homeowners in their fire districts, and we look forward to working them through the Firewise Communities/USA process. It would be great to see all of the communities recognized as Arkansas FireWise communities," said Samuel.