SALCHA COMMUNITY FIRE SERVICE MEETING

February 15, 2006

Meeting brought to order at 7:00 p.m. 

Opening statements by Rob Weathers.

Introductions made by group.  45 people in attendance. 

Rob:

Outlined goals of the meeting – taking a look at Salcha Rescue’s capabilities, was it capable of providing fire service to this community.  The community has seen an increase of fires  – house/structure, wildland, motor vehicle, some involving fatalities.  Salcha Rescue has limited resources for providing fire response.  The plan is to include all homes, businesses accessible by road.   Don’t believe should include homes outside of road service area – i.e. up the Salcha River – not fair for tax purposes.  In a nutshell, Salcha Rescue can provide limited response, no matter where in community you live.  The only difference would be the response time, as it currently is with emergency medical service response  Salcha Rescue’s response area is from Eielson AFB gate south to end of the Borough- Mile 295. 

A flyer handed out in community past week which outlined the agenda to be covered - current structural/wildland fire response, what a fire department does, staffing, management. 

For a wildland fire response or structural fire, Salcha Rescue is toned 0ut and we arrive on scene, and stand by.  There is nothing Salcha Rescue can do to put out the fire – we have no equipment/training.  We do have a mutual aid agreement with North Star Volunteer Fire Department if there area people in the structure, but that would be a 30-45 minutes response from North Star.  Department of Natural Resource (DNR) (a State of Alaska department) won’t come out for a dumpster fires unless trees/structures threatened.   A few years ago there was a large fire – Miller’s Reach - near Anchorage.  Similar community to Salcha.  Wildland fire got out of control, burned a number of homes.  Wind driven fire in this community can devastate this community.   Currently our only response  DNR.  Initial attack on a small fire with early response is critical.   The Fairbanks area experience the same thing two years ago.  

Ed Keep-Barnes, Chief of Operations, Salcha Rescue:

Salcha Rescue’s current capabilities are: ice rescue, swift water rescue, wilderness medics, motor vehicle extrication, high/low rope rescue, advanced life support ambulance response.  We have two stations, two ambulances, one rescue vehicle, an airboat, two snowmachines with rescue sled, an inflatable Achilles raft, and have recently acquired two four-wheelers.  We have managed flooding past number of years.  We are capable of responding on the rivers/lakes, both winter and summer, and off-road.   We are funded by Borough tax dollars.   

Duties and responsibilities of a fire department:

From the audience:  Terry Riley:  He was working in McKinley when the Princess Hotel burned.  As a volunteer department, they worked together, got equipment running. Discussed his Department’s goals.   

Scott Berry – former Firefighter in Barrow:  The purpose of a fire department is to protect life and property.    Scott gave a brief overview of what takes place on a structure fire.  On scene there is a person from the department who has been designated as Command.  There is a chief.  There is a fire engine and water tanker.  There are department personnel who make up the “company” that support each piece of equipment, i.e., engine company, tanker company.  Ideally, there is also another water tanker that swaps out with the other water tanker to keep resupply the engine.  For example, there are two people who enter the burning building, carrying the fire hose wearing self-container breathing apparatus (SCBA). Two or more may follow as a Rescue/Search Team.  Other department personnel go around the building finding access (windows/doors) to break open to allow the smoke out, which allows personnel inside to access victims.  Smoke is greatest danger to life.  Everyone in the department is trained to operate all the equipment, but by choice, you can be an engine operator, tanker operator, etc.  Not everyone has to go into the building.   A basic understanding of Command and how it works is necessary.  On scene there is a Commander, Battalion Commander and Chief.  A Firefighter 2 can apply to be Commander.    

Question was asked as to mutual aid.  Per Rob – yes, if  a fire service district is approved, we would enter into a mutual aid agreement with other fire departments, probably North Star. 

Rob:

Goals – limit risk of fire in community – both structure and wildland.

This doesn’t mean a fire department can save every structure.  In a limited response department, for example, – if your garage is on fire, we can probably prevent your home from burning, your neighbor’s house from burning, prevent spread of fire – wildland, etc.  DNR is responsible for all road accessible fires.  The Bureau of Land Management, a federal agency, responds on federal lands.   

Question asked as to response times.  Ed:  as with emergency medical service (EMS), the closest medic to the scene goes to scene in his/her private vehicle and begins initial assessment.  Other members go to the closest station and respond with ambulance/rescue vehicles.  This would also be the same for fire response. 

Rob:

Community support/staff/management:

With  EMS, a  portion of taxes paid come back through EMS.   Salcha Rescue receives an annual operating budget from the Borough.  We also receive monies from donations, and occasionally from federal and state grants which we have to apply for.   A Board of Directors manages the property and finances.  Day-to-day operations are managed by the Chief of Operations.   

Community supports means exactly that – we need fire fighters.  This encompasses emergency vehicle operators – how to operate these safely; fire commissioners, a board of directors – the fire service district will need people to fill these positions.  The Board will need to operate on the same level of professionalism as other departments, as Salcha Rescue currently does.

Funding – taxes.   A Millage tax is needed to form a fire service area.  Are we willing to impose a small tax to staff and manage a fire department?  There are grant available to apply for assistance for fire fighter grants under FEMA. 

Question was asked about the level of service versus ISO rating.  Level of service – staff, train, equipment depart for fire service area, reduce tax for fire insurance if you carry, we have the potential of limiting damage of structure.  Currently pay 14.81 mill on taxes.  Ester VFD– 17.34.  NSVFD 16.12, Steese Volunteer Fire Department 16.54,   Chena Goldstream Fire and Rescue 16.5.  For example,  $100,000 home  – mill rate increase of 2 on $100,000 house raises taxes approximately $200 year.  Divide by 12 months, it would amount roughly paying $43 extra a month for fire service.  Shannon Price stated just by having a fire department in the Salcha Community would have reduced his Homeowner Fire Insurance by $200 per year. 

Per Myles Comeau: rough estimates – 2 mil increase in property tax.  Example:  There are approximately 1,000 homes in community.  Some are appraised more than $100,000, some less.  An average estimate could be $300,000 in revenue generated a year for fire service.  Last census in 2000 the population in Salcha was around 1,200.   Question was asked about tax revenue generated from Pump station 8.  Howard  Rixie mentioned a few years ago a community organization attempted to form fire service district.  He stated that the Pump Station by law can be levied 19 mil (1992 levied about 12 mil).   The then Borough mayor felt if the Borough was able to levy 3 mil tax  (Johnson Road) –that would pay for four fire stations in Salcha area.

Question asked:   How does Alyeska fit into the situation now?  Per Rob:  not sure how that works.  Salcha Rescue currently has responsibility to respond to Pump Station 8 if toned out. Responsibility to respond, scene assessment, and activate resources.

Question asked:  Alaska Railroad coming into the area- how would that impact a fire service district.  Per Rob:  Salcha Rescue (Fire) would be a first responder.  Assessing and requesting resources as necessary for the type of incident.  The Railroad has been approached informally as to funds for training/response to such contingencies.

Question asked:  Funding?  Howard Rixie stated that in the previous quest to form a fire department, they learned that the Borough had set aside several parcels of property in the Salcha community for such a purpose.

Rob:

 Fire Service Area taxes imposed – for the fire service assessment, every tax dollar collected is returned to your Fire department.

Community fire department – we establish goals, objectives, funding, management.  $250,000 annual budget.

Myles :

 Doesn’t include Alyeska Pipeline Company PS 8.  $1.5 million initial startup for building.

 Scott:

 Example: Barrow new engine – Pierce, 4 wheel drive, 1,000 gallon tank, fully equipped – foam for petroleum based fire, plumbed 500 gallons per minute gun for exposure control, hand held equipment – extinguishers, $345,000.  Tankers $225,000, 3000 gallon tank on Kenworth chassis, 4wd,   Tanker backs up engine.  Need additional water source to supply engine. Options.  Start with National Fire Protection Agency certified equipment turned in by other departments? 

Rob:

Fires in the FNSB in 2005 – fire response was less than 2%.  Cost – $4, 470,000.  Source – chimney fires, heating appliances, stoves, electric heaters.  If called early, chimney fires can be caught. 

Training in addition to apparatus - Firefighter 1 is a two month course.  Once a person is certified, he/she doesn’t have to retest.  (EMTs have to recertify every two years).  But it will be necessary to keep training up.   A Firefighter 1 course is starting in October and runs through November, four hours a night/two nights a week, eight hours per Saturday,  State written and practical exams.  Fairbanks Fire Training Center (State of Alaska): – Firefighter 1, Firefighter 2, HAZMAT, company officers, etc.

Community ownership – turn Salcha Rescue into community Salcha Fire and Rescue.  This will take community leadership, not just Salcha Rescue leadership.  Leadership is about planning.  This project needs leadership to chart the course – where will we be in 3-5 years.  Assess our community as to wants, needs, and expectations. What are the risks and hazards in our community and the most efficient method to reduce the damage, loss of life and educate the community regarding structural and wildland fires.   Salcha Rescue did a community risk assessment 15 years ago. This resulted in the formation of a technical rescue response to include vehicle extrication, ice rescue, swift water rescue, rope rescue, and off-road/wilderness. Salcha Rescue also reorganized its scene/incident management in accordance with the Incident Management System. We will need to look at our community, identify high threat areas, water supply areas, etc.  Dollars, structures, lives lost, what is true cost.  Need to know community geography, demographics, type of response needed and can we pay for it?  What are factors that will increase/decrease needs- railroad, pump station.   Our ability to interact and communicate with community will need to be forthright.  Accurate facts, figures, goals. We need community advocates. The community and Salcha Rescue should be committed to fund, equip, train, and manage a volunteer Fire/EMS department that serves to protect and educate. Community ownership is vital.

Rob asked the audience for commitment – volunteers.  A show of hand indicated the group was unanimous in moving forward with the formation of Fire Service District.

Rob proposed a planning group and asked the audience for participants/volunteers for initial planning:

The following are individuals/planning groups:

Darlene McKnight –Valerie Weathers - Administrative/documentation

Funding resources – taxes/property values:  Eric Lancer -Donna Price

Community outreach – Nancy Mattzela, Ed Keep-Barnes, Yvonne Levitt,

Morrie Mills – Salcha website

Capital item costs – Scott Berry, Jake Loud, James Kitchen

Schedule next meeting –  Salcha School.  March 1, 2006 7:00 p.m.

Separate issue – Budget – annual/ startup, apparatus/staff/training/building.  Michelle McDonald - Dodie Rixie volunteered to help out. 

Special election – process – Howard Rixie (petitions and timelines)

Draft resolution for a fire service area – Howard Rixie

Boundaries – James Kitchen, Bill Taylor

Question as asked about a proposed/specific location for new facility?  Not yet. 

 Howard Rixie proposed that at the next meeting, we have a Salcha area map (Rob will obtain).  This way, people in attendance can put a pin in the location where they live, and can put in a different colored pin if they’re willing to volunteer to be a member of the fire department.

Closing comments.

Next meeting scheduled for March 01 2006 at 7:00 p.m., Salcha School.

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