FAQ

The most accurate information about fire hydrant locations and fire flow available at specific locations can be obtained from your water purveyor (who ever sends you your water bill).  When you contact your water purveyor, have your name and address ready.

You need to have smoke detectors in each sleeping room, in the hallway outside of sleeping rooms and on each floor level of your home.

All new homes are required to have smoke detectors  - ionic and photoelectric.  Both types of detectors work well to detect fires where there are open flames.  Tests have shown that the photoelectric detectors are better in detecting smoldering fires, the type of fire most common in homes.

The most common place is on the ceiling of the room.  Take care not to place the detector outside of bathroom doors, in kitchens and other areas that produce vapors that might lead to accidental detector activation.

Automatic fire sprinklers are connected to a series of pipes that run through the buildings framework.  The pipes are connected by control valves to a city or other reliable water supply.  When a fire occurs, water automatically discharges through the sprinkler head to extinguish or control the fire until the fire department arrives.

Fire sprinklers are activated from the heat of the fire.

No. Only those sprinklers directly over the fire are activated.  Most fires are contained or extinguished with only one or two heads going off.

Yes.  Sprinklers in homes are very effective life safety devices that significantly enhance your chances for survival if there is a fire in your home.

The Benton Clean Air Authority regulates when it is okay to burn. Their Burn Line Phone Number is 946-4489.  When calling the burn line you will need to know if your property is outside or inside of the Urban Growth Area (UGA).  To find out if your property is in or outside of the UGA please call the Planning Department at 786-5612.

Information on burning and burning permits can be obtained from the Benton Clean Air Authority, see the above information in order to contact their office or website.

Only natural vegetation that is grown on the property - and small amounts of paper necessary to start the fire.

Recreational and cooking fires are allowed even in areas where general outdoor burning is prohibited.  The same safety rules apply for cooking and recreational fires as for general outdoor burning.  The safety rules are listed on the face of the burning permit.

Most fireworks are regulated in Benton County. For information on what types of fireworks are allowed in Benton County, please refer to Benton County Chapter 7.30.120. The discharge of all fireworks, regardless of type, is prohibited between June 28th and July 5th of any year that the Energy Release Value for the Southeast Washington Region is determined by the Department of Natural Resources or any other agency of the State of Washington to be valued at 17 or higher at any time on or after June 19th in a particular year and the Benton County Fire Marshal subsequently publishes notice of a Fire Danger Classification of Extreme on the Benton County Website. Fireworks are not allowed in Kennewick or Prosser.

The Fire Marshal's Office enforces various state and local fire codes, fireworks laws and fire prevention statutes.  The Fire Marshal reviews and approves plans submitted for new building construction and conducts on site inspections and approvals throughout the building process.  He inspects the County's existing businesses based upon the potential for loss of life and then loss of property in the event of a fire.

Yes.  Please contact our Fire Marshal who works out of the Building Division.  You can reach him during business hours (8-12 a.m. and 1-5 p.m.) Monday thru Friday, except holidays at (509) 735-3500.