Lyon County residents: if you’re planning a controlled burn next year — or the year after that, for that matter — it’s time to get a free burn permit.
Emergency Management Director Jarrod Fell says burn permits are now available at the Lyon County Courthouse, Lyon County Sheriff’s Office and city halls for the county’s smaller communities. He says the practice has become more accepted over time.
Fell also says the permits help fire and rescue personnel determine how much of the county is “on fire” at a given time, which could well help response times in case a fire goes out of control.
Once the permits are in hand, Fell says Lyon County residents need to call the Emergency Communication Center at 343-4225 with location, permit number and estimated acreage to be affected — and to do so before the burn starts. Residents then need to call back when the burn is put out. Emporia residents do not need a burn permit, but Fell says they need to call the Emporia Fire Department at 343-4230 to get permission to burn.
As has been the case the last few years, burns will not be allowed whenever the National Weather Service issues red flag warnings for a combination of critical fire conditions.
