Montgomery County Ranger Jenimy Williams presents Mount Ida VFD Chief Barry Craw and Mount Ida Mayor Jo Childress a $500 Firewise grant. Pictured left to right: Mount Ida Mayor Jo Childress, Montgomery County Ranger Jenimy Williams, Mount Ida VFD Chief Barry Craw.
Mount Ida VFD recently received a $500 grant from the Arkansas Forestry FIREWISE Program as part of ongoing community projects to reduce wildfire damage.
Arkansas FIREWISE works to create heightened awareness of wildfire presence in Arkansas: increase individual homeowner mitigation efforts and provide sustainable fire prevention plans, involvement with continual fire mitigation projects and continuing leadership in community fire safety and efforts by working with Arkansas fire crews within the state.
The primary mission of the FIREWISE initiative is to improve a community’s defensible space, or the area closest to homes (up to 300 feet from structures) that should be treated for wildfire-resistance. Firefighters have visited homes, listened to homeowner concerns and distributed safety information at various events during the year. They also worked on a plan to create added defensible space around residences and to educate homeowners how to make their property safer from fires.
The fire Department and the AFC hope to support you in all efforts to reduce wildfire risk. Call 501-296-1940 for more information about FIREWISE, or contact your local AFC office at 870-867-2013. Remember to call 911 to report wildfires or emergencies in your area.
