January's 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 Barkhimer home shows the positive effects of clearing ladder fuel from around the house and creating a clear defensible space.

 

 

This FireWise home has the latest in fire-safe metal roofs, and also has fire resistant siding.

 

The area around the house has all been carefully cleared so that wildfire cannot be transmitted to the home. The outbuildings are also carefully separated from the main house; one more way to make Barkhimer's home FireWise.

If you would like more information about how you can make YOUR home FireWise, please call the Arkansas Forestry Commission at 501-296-1940. We will be glad to help you, and we have speakers and programs we can provide for your community group.