Perry

Recognized Firewise Community/USA

The original Perry County Firewise board was organized on Oct. 6, 2003, at the Max Milam Branch Library in Perryville. Eight of the 13 county volunteer fire departments were represented and received wildfire risk assessment training.

Original Perry County Firewise board members were Troy Glen, chair, Cherry Hill VFD Captain; Harold Walden, vice chair, Perry VFD Fire Chief; Deb Hechtel-Walden, secretary/treasurer, Perry VFD Assistant Chief; Joel Woolf, Perry VFD Fire Chief; Ben Lee, Perry VFD Fire Chief; Richard Wade, Adona VFD Fire Chief; Tom Caton, Wye VFD (West Pulaski) Fire Chief; Nelson Anderson, Harris Brake VFD Fire Chief; Wayne Reed, Bigelow VFD Fire Chief; Chris Lewis, Cherry Hill VFD Fire Chief; Eric Robinson, Casa VFD Fire Chief; Robert McNeal, Nimrod VFD Fire Chief; Lee Adams, Williams Junction VFD Fire Chief; Scott Erwin, Houston VFD Fire Chief; Wayne Hill, Hollis VFD Fire Chief; Glenn Gregg, Stony Point VFD Fire Chief; Larry Moore, AFC Perry County Ranger; Michael Bean, U.S. Forest Service, Jessieville Ranger District-Assistant FMO; Lester Rose, U.S. Forest Service, Winona Ranger District-Retired; Ann Offield, Perry County OEM Coordinator; Becky Latture, Perry County 911 Coordinator; True Robinson, Perry County Judge; Don Galbraith, GEMS Ambulance owner.

In the summer of 2004, the volunteer fire departments surveyed their communities and made a Firewise plan for each town.

In the fall, the board was reorganized into nine separate boards and nine towns — Adona, Cherry Hill, Harris Brake, Hollis, Houston, Nimrod, Perry, Thornburg and Williams Junction — were recognized as Firewise Communities/USA on Dec. 21, 2004.