The Arkansas FireWise Team is choosing one outstanding FireWise home for each month.

May's FireWise Home of the Month belongs to Tom and Holly Freehling. Located on Highway 23 about 2 miles south of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, the Freehling home is another wonderful demonstration of how natural beauty and modern-day wisdom come together in a FireWise setting.

The Freehlings moved to their new home in June, 2002. All was well for a few months, but in early March, 2003, there was a wildfire about one-fourth mile north of their home started by a broken power line. That concerned them.

Then, in April, another wildfire broke out and burned for five days just southeast of their home. They could see smoke every day, as firefighters battled high winds and low humidity. The fire kept escaping the control lines, and nearly burned the Lone Star Bible Church and the home next to it. The blaze bumped Highway 23 just one mile from the Freehling home. This fire really scared the Freehlings, and they decided it was time to make their home FireWise.

First, they hired a bushhog to cut back all the vegetation on their property. Then they started making plans to clean out the pond (see photo below) behind their home. They expanded the defensible space around their home.

The Freehlings are learning more about FireWise and the simple FireWise measures that can help them reduce the risk of ignition to their home from a wildland fire.

This photo shows that the home is clearly marked, with the address on the mailbox right on Highway 23. The trees are well-spaced, and ladder fuels have been removed. Finally, an ample circle drive allows easy access for emergency vehicles if they are ever needed.

It's a little hard to tell from this photo, but this is a pond behind the Freehling home which will serve as an emergency water supply. Plans are to clean it out this summer to make the water more easily accessible.

This is the Freehling's back yard. It was bushhogged this Spring, and this summer plans are to remove stumps so that it can be mowed on a regular basis.

This photo shows the north side of the home. The concern for a defensible space is obvious, and the home boasts a new fire-resistant composition shingle roof. Note the firewood pile more than 30 feet from the home!