PEA RIDGE — Eight dogs died in a fire at a kennel on Indian Creek Road Sunday.

The fire was one of several to which three volunteer fire departments - Pea Ridge, Avoca and Northeast Benton County - were called Sunday afternoon.

High winds and low humidity intensified the fire danger said Benton County Fire Marshal Will Hanna.

Benton County is under a burn ban.

“The weather conditions - we have high winds, haven’t had enough precipitation so the vegetation creates dry fuel,” Hanna said.

At her residence on Kay Lyn Drive, Pea Ridge, Cecile Foster was mowing when the riding mower on which she was riding caught firecatching leaves and the lawn on fire.

A brush fire on Laticia Lane in Avoca was reported just as firefighters were returning to their stations and then, at 5:06 p.m. firefighters were dispatched to 15105 Indian Creek Road for a brush fire that burned a shed and heated a propane tank causing the pressure valve to release twice.

There, property owner Charles Jones had been burning brush and leaves.

The shed, which housed several dogs, caught on fire. Jones was able to get the pair of St. Bernards out, but the fire was too hot, he received burns and had to retreat when trying to free the other dogs - Corgies, poodles and Yorkies.

News, Pages 5 on 03/23/2011