Arkansas Community Stories
Ozark Country Estates (OCE) is an 1100-acre rural subdivision that borders the east side of Ozark, the Franklin County seat. To the south is US Highway 64 and to the north is Interstate 40. To the east of OCE is timber and pastureland that is currently being developed. Although all of OCE lies in the Arkansas River Valley, a ridge runs east to west along the center of the development. Flora includes improved pasture and meadow, abandoned pasture and meadow, hardwood stands, small pine stands, cedar glades and briar thickets. Individual lots in OCE vary from one to over fifteen acres. Lot owners have a variety of philosophies concerning management of the land, ranging from pressure grazing by horses to complete nonintervention.
Approximately
120 homes are in OCE. They range from entry level (including some manufactured
homes) to the high end of the market in Franklin County. Homes are found
on the valley floor, mid-slope, along ridgelines and on top of the ridge.
Roads are generally narrow and curvy. Many homes or groups of homes may
be along one-outlet roads. Many of the residents are fond of the trees and
it is not uncommon for pines or cedars to contact wooden decks or rooflines.
A
rural water system serves the homes, but it is inadequate for the demands
of a wildland/urban interface conflagration. Fortunately, the bridges in
the area will support water tender traffic. Other favorable conditions include
several areas that would be adequate safety zones for firefighters, suitable
locations for command posts, staging areas, water dump sites, barriers to
fire spread (rock outcrops, utility rights-of-way, etc.), ponds and swimming
pools. Challenges include terrain preventing the user of dozers and overhead
high energy lines that would severely limit air attack over much of the
area.
Many homeowners were contacted during the initial assessment of OCE, and some expressed interest in participating in the Firewise program. Firewise brochures were given to all homeowners during the assessment period.
OCE
will host a booth at the county fair that will concentrate on Firewise issues.
Information will also be delivered to residents in other ways. Six property
owners have agreed to let the Arkansas Fire Commission, in cooperation with
the local fire departments, do prescribed burns on 44 acres within the development.
The burn projects are strategically located to increase the holding capacity
of roads and to remove fuel from some slope areas. OCE has also has an agreement
with the county judge to work with the road crews to do mechanical fuel
reduction projects along some of the more vulnerable roadways. Residents
will have assistance with fuel reduction on their property through the loaning
of trimmers and with chipper days.
The activity in OCE is a pilot effort for Franklin County and firefighters from all departments will be invited to participate in the prescribed burning project.
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