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Fire Half continued . . .
<br /> The Fire Department is authorized 33 members who, in f. Compressor to refill air paks is located in garage with
<br /> addition to responding to emergencies,participate in three-to- vehicle fumes. It should be located in separate room to
<br /> five training sessions per month,maintain the Department's maintain clean air supply.
<br /> equipment, and conduct fire prevention activities. All g. No exhaust system to remove vehicle fumes from garage
<br /> Department members are either currently state certified fire 3. Structural defects.
<br /> fighters, or in the case of new members, attending certification a. Cement block walls of current facility are cracking on sown
<br /> training at area vocational-technical colleges.All fire fighters and west sides.
<br /> are trained as medical first responders, and five are certified b. Floor drains do not operate in winter.
<br /> emergency medical technicians (EMT). Though not a require- 4. Poor location.
<br /> ment for the Department, all fire fighters are currently training a. Inadequate access to main roads. Fire fighters traveling to
<br /> as EMT's. Department members average over 12 years of expe- the Fire Hall, and equipment responding to
<br /> rience as fire fighters. emergencies, must use narrow residential streets.
<br /> The Department has seven vehicles, from two-to-forty b. Fire Hall parking lot is also used for events held at the
<br /> years old, with an average equipment age of over 18 years; they adjacent park, including softball tournaments, family
<br /> include two pumper units,two water tankers, two grass fire rigs, gatherings and other affairs. This creates congestion for
<br /> and a rescue truck. fire fighter responding to emergencies and apparatus leaving
<br /> EXISTING FACILITY the Hall.
<br /> The existing Fire Hall was built circa 1960,with an addi- 5. For the reasons stated above,the current facilities are
<br /> tion built in 1967. It has five vehicle bays encompassing inadequate to serve the existing needs of the Department.
<br /> approximately 2,200 square feet. A separate 12 X 66 trailer Community growth will place greater demands on the
<br /> provides administration and storage space. A 24 X 26 wood- Department's personnel and equipment.
<br /> frame garage was built in 1990 to provide two parking stalls for 6. Expansion and remodeling of the existing facility was
<br /> grass fire vehicles and general storage; this building is also considered. At a cost of 50% to 60% of new construction,
<br /> shared by the City's building and utility departments. many of the problems with the current facility and its
<br /> The City Hall occupies 1,600 square feet of office space location would not be resolved. Garage doors and vehicle
<br /> attached to the fire hall. bay heights would remain too low, limiting future equipment
<br /> REASONS FOR A NEW FIRE HALL purchases; space would remain cramped; street access,
<br /> 1. Lack of adequate space in current facility. congestion,and related safety problems would remi in.
<br /> a.Vehicles are double parked in current facility,in some cases The existing building is in poor condition, and its curre.
<br /> slowing response times. layout would substantially limit design options.
<br /> b. Turn out gear is stored in cramped space behind vehicles, DESIGN CRITERIA FOR NEW BUILDING
<br /> creating safety problems and congestion as fire fighters As part of the decision process to build a new Fire Hall,the
<br /> don protective clothing and vehicles are readied to respond following minimum standards for the facility were determined
<br /> to emergencies. by a committee made up of fire fighters,Planning Commission
<br /> c. Two vehicles are stored away from main facility due to members, and the general public:
<br /> lack of parking space. 1. Eight vehicle stalls
<br /> d. Fire Department equipment is stored at a number of 2. Turnout gear storage area, adjacent to vehicle stalls,but with
<br /> locations due to lack of storage space. enough room to safely put on gear without interfering with
<br /> e. Training facility is too small to handle number of fire fighters vehicle operations.
<br /> on the Department. 3. Enough room for hose cleaner and dryer(or hose drying
<br /> f. Not enough office space. Four people share one small office tower) and needed equipment.
<br /> with file cabinets, computers, equipment storage, etc. 4. Separate room for air pak and small equipment maintenance.
<br /> g. Not enough room between equipment for people circulation. 5. Laundry facility.
<br /> h. Inadequate space for equipment maintenance. 6. Shower/decontamination area.
<br /> 2. Problems with current building. 7. Exhaust system for vehicle bays.
<br /> a.Trailer used for training and office space has no toilet 8. Parts and equipment storage room.
<br /> facilities or running water. 9. Garage doors should be at least 14 X 14.
<br /> b. Garage doors are too short for modern equipment. 10.Adequate plumbing and drainage in bays for vehicle
<br /> New equipment must be specially designed to fit. cleaning.
<br /> c. No shower facilities for decontamination and clean-up. 11. Training room should be adequate, in size and ventilation,
<br /> d. No hose dryer or hose tower to maintain equipment. Wet to handle 75 people. It should provide for modern
<br /> hoses are now draped over rafters, or stacked along walls instructional techniques such as videos,projections, et(
<br /> dripping onto floor. Proper hose care is a vital safety issue 12. Male and Female restrooms.
<br /> to fire fighters. 13. Communications room with view of vehicle bays.
<br /> e. Communication room does not have visibility into vehicle 14.Administrative space, including at least one private office,
<br /> bays, slowing coordination within the Department and and additional room for three-to-four desks, file cabinet,
<br /> between agencies. copier, etc.
<br /> 15. Small kitchen area.
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