Burn ban reinstated

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September 7, 2011 - 12:00 AM

With more than 20 pasture, grass and hay fires occurring, from all indications at the hands of arsonists, Allen County commissioners reinstated a countywide burning ban Tuesday morning.
The ban won’t prevent fires maliciously set, but it will give emphasis to efforts to track down those responsible for the fires, one of which consumed 250 bales of hay valued at about $25,000.
The criminal fires mainly have occurred in Geneva and Carlyle townships, north of Iola, including one over the holiday weekend and another Tuesday afternoon in the area of 800 Street and Virginia Road involving pasture and hay bales.
Allen County Crime Stoppers has offered a reward of up to $1,000 for information about the arsons, which may be made anonymously by calling 1-800-222-8477, by text to 274637 or on the Crime Stoppers Facebook page.
County Counselor Alan Weber noted that anyone violating the burning ban could be charged with a class A misdemeanor, which could lead to a fine of up to $2,500.
Sheriff Tom Williams asked Weber to look in to civil penalties that might be assessed if someone were arrested for the arsons, which could lead to reimbursement of expenses for those called to fight the fires as well as property owners.
Why are the fires being set, commissioners asked Williams.
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Any crime is hard to solve without a motive. Give me a motive and I’ll find who’s responsible.”

LOREN KORTE, Personal Service Insurance, handed commissioners a check for $28,311. That is Allen County’s share of a distribution from EMC Insurance, which provides coverage for about 40 counties in a statewide pool.
Korte said refunds totaled $824,983, which came from premiums being in excess of the company’s expenses within the pool.
Allen County’s EMC premium this year is $256,349.
The $28,311 will be prorated to departments within the county, according to each one’s share of the premium.

COMMISSIONERS embraced a program proposed by Pam Beasley, Emergency Management Services director, to give periodic training to all emergency responders in the county.
Beasley said the first phase would involve municipal and rural fire departments. All those in medical, law enforcement, public works and other levels of government also will have training opportunities.
“The time has come to make sure all responders are on the same page when responding to an emergency situation,” she said.
Initially will be countywide meetings to explain the training and “educate the jurisdictions on the importance of property emergency response training,” Beasley said.
Don Leapheart, Iola fire chief, said the training sessions would result in a comprehensive inventory of equipment and skill levels of responders countywide, which “will let us respond better to any emergency.”
He also noted that the training wouldn’t supplant what various department were doing, rather would complement their training.
“It won’t cost any more and will help everyone,” Leapheart said.
“The better we are prepared, the better we can respond,” said Commission Chairman Rob Francis.
In another emergency response note, Beasley said Allen County had received a $5,450 grant from the Kansas Department of Emergency Management to help with Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training.

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