Benton County firefighters are gearing up for the annual fire season as residents make plans for Christmas and the holiday season.
In northeast Benton County, the fire departments depend on volunteers to respond to fire calls. Typically, three departments are dispatched for structure fires, so Pea Ridge, Northeast Benton County, Avoca and Little Flock depend upon one another and their resources when fighting fires.
ARKANSAS FIREWISE
Pea Ridge is a member of the Arkansas FireWise program, a multi-agency wildfire preparedness effort sponsored by the Arkansas Forestry Commission - and part of the National FireWise Communities USA organization.
FireWise works with fire departments and civic organizations to make communities safer from the threat of wildfire through mitigation projects and community education initiatives.
Additional information about the program and about the county’s burn ban status can be found on the Benton County Fire Marshal’s web site at www.co.benton.ar.us.
A brush fire Tuesday morning erupted in the Avoca area.
The day before Thanksgiving, a family in Pea Ridge lost their home. Firefighters from Pea Ridge, Little Flock and NEBCOresponded in the pre-dawn hours to extinguish the flames.
Benton County Fire Marshal Will Hanna said the fire season in Arkansas belies the popular image of wildfires springing up in the heat of summer.
“In northwest Arkansas in the winter it’s cold and dry, with dry being the operative word,” Hanna said, “Unlike out west, where they have fire season in the summer with a combination of high temperature, low humidity and low fuel moisture. In Arkansas, we have the reverse. Our fire season runs from January through March or April.”
George Stowe-Rains, with the Arkansas Forestry Commission, said he’d put the beginning of the fire season a little earlier, inmid-December, but agreed with Hanna and said people need to be aware of the potential for fires when they engage in any activity that could create a spark. Stowe-Rains said the start of the season really depends on rainfall.
“When we get rains like we’ve had lately, it’s not too bad,” he said Monday.
“But as soon as January and February get here and the rainfall stops, we can run a call a day pretty easily.”
ADVICE FOR FIRE SAFETY
◊Make sure you have working smoke detectors.
◊Never leave cooking unattended.
◊Have your chimney/ fireplace cleaned and inspected;
ensure proper installation.
◊Beware of overloaded electrical circuits, holiday lighting and decorations can cause overheated electrical cords and accessories.
◊Keep electric space heaters in good condition. Leave plenty of unobstructed area around them.
◊Candles …shouldn’t have to say much about those.
◊If you use live Christmas trees, keep them watered.
◊It is our honest wish that you and your family have a joyous and safe holiday season.
Pea Ridge Fire Chief Frank Rizzio
Stowe-Rains said accidental fires are most common in the area during this time of year, but said arson is not uncommon.
“Accidental burning, like where someone is burning leaves and it gets away from them, I’d have to say is our No. 1 cause,” he said.
“But arson would probably be the second.”
Stowe-Rains said northeastern Benton County, with its wooded hills, is the most likely location for winter wild fires, although they can happen anywhere.
Pea Ridge Fire Chief Frank Rizzio praised the FireWise program in Benton County for helping reduce the risk of fire damage to homes. He said the program shows people how to create defensive spaces around their homes that could save them from an otherwise devastating fire.
The right combination of wind, fuel and a spark can start a fire at almost any time, one fire chief said.
Even when the county has received an abundance of rain, conditions can change quickly. That’s why the county and local departments monitor the situation and put burn bans in place.
Fires can start from unexpected sources, which increases the need for homeowners to use common sense and check with the county or local fire department before engaging in activities that might increase the risk of fire.
In Pea Ridge, a burn permit is required and may be obtained by calling the Fire Department at 451-1111. The controlled burn must be called into Benton County Central Communications at 451-8220 and must be leaves or limbs only - no trash or construction materials, according to Chief Rizzio.
News, Pages 1 on 11/30/2011