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National Fire Prevention Week runs through Saturday, and is not only a time for reminders on how to protect personal property, but also to review fire safety policies. Pella Fire Chief Doug Van Gorkom reminds residents that anyone planning to conduct a controlled burn in rural areas needs to report it ahead of time.

The reporting of controlled burns is a county ordinance, and Van Gorkom adds this will prevent dispatchers from paging fire departments for non-emergency situations when they receive calls from concerned or curious passers-by. Controlled burns should be reported to the nearest police department or the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.