PEA RIDGE — Pea Ridge offers burn permits at no charge effective for three days at a time, providing Benton County is not under a burn ban. Permits can be picked up at City Hall.
“Within city limits, the ordinance reads a permit must be issued to allow controlled burns in city limits,” Pea Ridge Fire Chief Frank Rizzio said.
Rizzio said the rules are explained on the permit, for instance not to burn on a windy day and what cannot be burned, such as household trash and construction materials.
“(Residents) have to call Central Communications to let them know where they’re burning, what they’re burning and when,” Rizzio said.
This avoids confusion if a neighbor sees smokeand reports a fire.
For burning outside city limits, a burn permit is not required, but residents must still call Cencom. The Cencom dispatcher will ask for the address and what is to be burned and log the scheduled burn. They will ask for a permit number if inside city limits.
“If someone has a situation where they aren’t familiar with, they can call fire department and we will come out to evaluate and help where needed,” Rizzio said.
“We don’t want someone to get over their head with yard work, don’t want them to get hurt or damage their property.”
Cencom and the Pea Ridge Volunteer Fire Department can be reached at 451-8220.
Area, Pages 8 on 05/19/2010