Be prepared: Winter weather precautions

As seasons shift from fall to winter, area residents should take necessary precautions.

Leaves may be burned, but only with a controlled burn permit.

Those permits, previously obtained at City Hall, can now be obtained at Fire Department station on South Curtis Avenue from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

seven days a week.

All controlled burns within the city limits must have a burn permit, according to city ordinance, and must be reported to Benton County Central Communications.

“All burn sites will be inspected prior to the permit being issued,” Ryan Walker, firefighter, said. The permits, which are valid for up to three days, are not valid during burn bans or windy conditions. Only natural vegetation, limbs or leaves may be burned.

The site at Station No. 2 on North Arkansas Highway 94 is no longer available to the public.

“With winter coming up, it’s a good time to remind everyone to check on elderly relatives or neighbors and provide a shelter for outside animals,” Walker said.

Chimneys should be cleaned and inspected by a licensed chimneysweepand leaves should be cleaned away from the outside of structures.

Walker also reminded residents to change batteries in both smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. “If you burn gas, you should have a co2 detector,” Walker said, referring to carbon monoxide detectors.

“Remember to slow down when it’s raining or icy,” Walker said, adding that drivers should check tire pressure and tread.

In addition, Benton County has a tool for receiving emergency information called BC Alert which allows persons to receive e-mail, phone and wireless alerts, notificationsand updates about an emergency or crisis. Benton County residents may sign up at www.bcalert.com, according to Robert McGowen, director of the Benton County Emergency Management Agency.

Check those tires

Last week when the temperatures dropped dramatically, Frank Sutherland at Pea Ridge Tire saw a dramatic rise in business.

“That’s very common. These cars that have those tire pressure sensors ... when the temperature drops, they go off. It’s just like a pressure cooker, when it gets warm the pressure goes up, when it gets cold, the pressure drops.

“Tire pressure fluctuates,” Sutherland said, adding that people should get their tire pressure checked at least four times a year.

He advised checking tire tread before snow and ice fall.

“Don’t wait until the snow flies,” Sutherland laughed.

News, Pages 1 on 11/23/2011