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August25,1998 <br /> <br />To: Jim Norman <br />From: Dean Kapler <br /> <br />Emergency Response Issues with Proposed Seniors Housing Center <br /> <br />Sylvia Frolik recently asked ill had any concerns dealing with a height restriction variance <br />involving the Senior Housing Center. Since I do have concerns I would like to address them with <br />this memo. <br /> <br />Ramsey's current height restriction is a "not to exceed 35 feet". The main reason for this <br />restriction is the lack of available equipment to deal with a fire in a structure exceeding this height. <br />The longest ladder the Fire Department currently has is an extension type ladder with a maximum <br />working length of 45 fl. (Although with the angle required to lean against a building, the actual <br />height we are able to work at is more like 38 ft.) <br /> <br />My concern is two-fold. First is the issue of possible rescue. Considering the fact that the people <br />residing in the complex may be of limited physical ability and agility, the process of evacuating <br />some of these residents down an extension ladder presents a challenge, assuming of course the <br />ladder can reach a point to initiate evacuation. Secondly is the issue of suppression. If current <br />equipment cannot reach the roof line, the effects of suppression activities may be greatly reduced. <br /> <br />The Fire Department's long range capital plan includes an Aerial Ladder Truck scheduled for <br />purchase in the year 2005. This apparatus would give us the availability of reaching heights of 80 <br />ft. or more. With the construction of the housing center, we as a city may want to look at moving <br />the purchase date up. <br /> <br />Even if the purchase date were moved up, the date of occupancy will be prior to the apparatus <br />arriving for use. In this interim time, the Fire Department can make an Operational Procedure to <br />immediately call neighboring communities for equipment if an incident should happen at the <br />complex. The cities of Anoka and Andover both have Aerial Ladder Trucks, but of course cannot <br />guarantee that the trucks would be available for our request. <br /> <br />It is my opinion that the purchase schedule of the ladder truck should be included as part of the <br />construction plan of the housing complex. I also realize this is no small undertaking as the cost of <br />a ladder truck can be from $350,000 to $450,000, or more, in today's dollars. <br /> <br />cc. Sylvia Frolik <br /> <br /> <br />