USS 2843/MISSION - Exception (2)Kodiak Island Borough
Ms. Jeannie Volker, Executive Director
Baptist Mission
1944 Rezanof Drive East
Kodiak, Alaska 99615
710 MILL BAY ROAD
KODIAK, ALASKA 99615-6340
PHONE (907) 486 -5736
August 12, 1988
RE: Baptist Mission Fire Hydrant Requirements
Dear Jeannie,
On Tuesday, August 9, 1988 you mentioned to the Kodiak Island Borough
Construction Inspector. Dan Millard, that you had no official document
from the Borough explaining the requirements and location of fire
hydrant installations as required by Fire District No. 1 Fire Chief Earl
Smith. I hope this will explain the Fire Chief's directive.
In 1984 the Borough adopted the Uniform Fire Code, 1982 Edition. The
Code gives the Fire Chief the authority to require on site fire
suppression and alarm systems where needed. A copy of the specific,
section is attached.
The Mission currently has only two buildings that have been constructed
since the adoption of the Fire Code which are, therefore, subject to the
code requirements as determined by the Fire Chief.
When the Thrift Shop burned, the Mission asked for an exception to the
Borough Code to allow for the reconstruction of the Thrift Shop and to
bring an existing nonconforming land use into conformance with the
Borough Code which would allow for the Mission's expansion.
The Planning and Zoning Commission granted your request on May 20, 1987.
One of the stipulations of granting this request was:
"...all future construction will be required to comply
with applicable Zoning, Building and Fire Codes."
'(Notification letter dated May 2f, 1987 from Robert H.
Pederson, Associate Planner, Community Development.)
At the time the Thrift Shop building permit was issued, the Fire Chief
was not included in the Borough's permit review process. Since that
time, the Fire Chief has. been included in the review process. The Fire
,Chief's concerns were not included in the building permit issued for
your new Storage and Maintenance Shop. However, the Fire Code does
allow the Fire Chief to identify deficiencies at any time for
Page 2
Baptist Mission Fire Hydrant Requirements
August 12, 1988
qualifying structures and not just during the permit review period.
It may be noted that the Building Inspector's Office reviews the
building plans for Fire Code requirements but does not review the
outside fire suppression support system requirements.
Based on the remoteness of the Mission from a dependable water source
for fire suppression and the Fire Department's experience in
extinguishing the Thrift Shop fire, there is a very real concern for the .
safety of the staff and young people at the Mission. Because of this
concern, Chief Smith has required the installation of a water system to
provide fire protection for the Thrift Shop and Maintenance Shop
specifically, but, obviously the entire Mission complex will then have
adequate fire fighting capability.
The following alternatives will satisfy Chief Smith's requirements.
Alternative 1: Install one fire hydrant within 150 feet of the
new shop building and one within 150 feet of the
new Thrift Shop.
Alternative II: Install a fire hydrant halfway between the Thrift
Shop and Maintenance Shop.
Alternative I would provide the best coverage and meets the Code's 150
feet protection radius requirement for the two new buildings. This is
also the most expensive alternative since the water main would have to
be extended all the way to the Thrift Shop site.
Alternative II would be less expensive but functional. This would
locate the fire hydrant in one of the two islands located in front of
the Mission's Administration Office. This does not meet the Code's 150
feet protection radius of the fire hydrant but, due to its strategic
location and accessibility, Chief Smith would waive this requirement.
Both alternatives would provide protection for all the existing
buildings except the two single — family residences on the East side of
the Mission grounds.
Another alternative has been suggested by Paul Krauser of the Baptist
Mission. This is to install the fire hydrant only on the new
Maintenance Shop building side of McWhinnie Cottage. Even though this
would be the least expensive option, it would provide only marginal
protection for the West half of the Mission complex and you would not be
able to obtain permits for renovation of existing buildings or new
buildings on that half of your complex. Should McWhinnie Cottage be
fully involved in fire, the fire truck probably could not get to the
fire hydrant. If the Thrift Shop were involved. valuable time would be
lost in going to this hydrant and back to the shop with the truck.
Page 3
Baptist Mission Fire Hydrant Requirements
August 12, 1988
I hope this information clarifies the concerns about the fire hydrant.
I think you can appreciate the fact that the main concern is for the
safety of the staff and young people at the Mission. As it stands at
this time, I think all of you are at considerable risk if you have a
fire. On alternative 1, if funding is a problem, you could put in the
one hydrant by the new shop now and wait until next year to put in the
second one if that helps.
I would request that the details of the fire hydrant locations be worked
out with Construction Inspector Dan Millard and Assistant Fire Chief
Andy Nault while-Chief Smith is out of town. -
Please give me a call if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
Jer` uiie M. Selby
Borough Mayor,
JS:mw
Attachment
cc: Earl Smith, Fire Chief, Bayside Fire Department
Tony Orabek, Building Inspector, City of Kodiak
Dave Crowe, Engineer, Kodiak Island Borough
Dan Millard, Construction Inspector, Kodiak Island Borough
Linda Freed, Community Development Director, Kodiak Island' Borough
Division III
INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF FIRE-
- PROTECTION, LIFE - SAFETY SYSTEMS AND
APPLIANCES
Installation.
See 10.701. (a) Type Requited. The chief shall designate the type and number
of fire appliances to be installed and maintained in and upon all buildings and
premises in the jurisdiction other than private dwellings. This shall be done
according to the relative severity of probable rue, including the rapidity with
which it may spread. Such appliances shall he of a type suitable for the probable
class of rue associated with such building or premises and shall have approval of
the chief.
Portable fire extinguishers shall be in accordance with U.F.C. Standard No.
10-1.
(b) Special Hazards. In occupancies of an especially hazardous nature or
where special hazards exist in addition to the normal hazard of the occupancy, or
where access for fire apparatus is unduly difficult, additional safeguards may be
required consisting of additional fire appliance units, more than one type of
appliance, or special systems suitable for the protection of the hazard involved.
Such devices or appliances may consist of automatic fire alarm systems, automat-
ic sprinkler or water spray systems, standpipe and hose, fixed m portable fire
extinguishers, suitable asbestos blankets, breathing apparatus, manual or auto-
matic covers, carbon dioxide, foam, halogenated and dry chemical or other
special fire-extinguishing systems. Where such systems are installed, they shall
be in accordance with the applicable Uniform Fire Code Standards or standards of
the National Fire Protection Association when Uniform Fire Code Standards do
not apply. '
(c) Water Supply. An approved water supply capable of supplying required
fire flow for fire protection shall be provided to all premises upon which buildings
or portions of buildings are hereafter constructed. When any portion of the
building protected is in excess of 150 feet from a water supply on a public street,
there shall be provided, when required by the chief, on -site tire hydrants and
mains capable of supplying the required fire flow.
Water supply may consist of reservoirs, pressure tanks, elevated tanks, water
mails or other fixed system capable of supplying the required fire flow. In setting .
the requirements for rue flow, the chief may be guided by the standard published
by the Insurance Services Office, "Guide for Detemdnation of Required Fire
Flow."
The location, number and type of rue hydrants connected to a water supply
capable of delivering the required fire flow shall be provided on the public street
or on the site of the premises to be protected as required and approved by the chief.
All hydrants shall be accessible to the fire department apparatus by roadways
meeting the requirements of Section 10.207. .
(d) Timing of Installation. When fire protection facilities are to be installed by
the developer, such facilities including all surface access roads shall be installed
and made serviceable prior to and during the time of construction. When alternate
methods of protection, as approved by the chief, are provided, the above may be
modified or waived.
(e) Approval and T1-sting. All fire alarm systems, rue hydrant systems, fire-
extinguishing systems (including automatic sprinklers); wet and dry standpipes,
basement inlet pipes, and other fire- protection systems and pertinents thereto
shall meet the approval of the fire department as to installation and location and
shall be subject to such periodic tests as required by the chief. Plans and
specifications shall be submitted to the fire department for review and approval
prior to construction. '
J
. _
"cc> k-c-c> AV- _13 /kr 1-14-Ge
t tS St=reir‘44At- +-5(01.1c-C nci-err
0.-12P_AA C: DeC12) .
r-0<- 'The Gn -
Qvc?!. x..1=›* f.-tisca Stt,;;e
=Ate-Ave •:50 'Pte. 7 n N11.--7tr C rt_,T-Lart,N.E. "FOL-
. effte. c� SflUJCutc ._. iltb4=Me3,41*
-ftricm-Th CSE" -11TC-
V-01:74 'eccsantiril- S _ "-e■rte ccDpe,
_...aret-i_AccfRpr Oat 11/Z LC:1-41- MCC
Cm- 1 1-4L-t-arr 1 41,-) .TFLACF.
c c---r) SST ILAJC.41 cya cite_ tt Far C.(1_4(sr •-1
0-1tirtYP lZrt T515.157a)-9-.S
Titre 1=0-b-011/41-1, _ _ _
. I . ClaSC:1=4.1_ crAte_r-C3 11._
fl-air -erce f eTh i. (4,-Wtr.c.-7.1rrip.--:‘
• FLALe
AfRotat-717-a -=:,-) eftgkrt- tb,toenz„. _ -
co,D.*ritere.- k4Acttg_ c5F -tst_40 rnearri
'MS `i C;20 icez- _
Lm tVcc,
_
nackackr_
-rtal 1c4.41%., crrnk-44.__ _
• ,as- .
L.0. lere)it
Arig-ALzr. : P.. •