GENTRY — It may soon be possible for owners of dilapidated buildings and structures to burn them within city limits, though a number of requirements must first be met.

With the passage of a county ordinance which allows burning to be used as a method to remove certain unsafe and dilapidated structures, discussions are currently under way in the city to draft a similar ordinance and possibly provide property owners with a less costly method of demolishing and removing old buildings.

Because of the closer proximity of other buildings and utilities within the city, some additional safeguards will likely need to be incorporated into the ordinance.

Currently being discussed by the fire committee and council members are inspections and permits prior to burning, a fee which would pay for the fire department to be on standby while structures are burned andan additional fee should the fire department need to actively engage in fire fighting in connection with a controlled burn of a structure.

“I do not see an issue in doing this (permitting burns), but we’ll need to take extra steps to ensure safety because of the closer proximity of other buildings, utilities and trees,”Gentry Fire Chief Vester Cripps said at a fire committee meeting on Monday morning.

Cripps and fire committee members are currently looking at ordinances of other cities - particularlyLowell - which allow the practice. They are also inquiring into the cost of necessary pre-burn inspections for asbestos and other hazards so that appropriate fees covering costs can be included in an ordinance.

News, Pages 1 on 03/17/2010