3. Hinz Letter Log House Landing
Dear Council,
I went down to personally take a look at the Log House Landing on lanuary 10th, some of the issues I
noticed were that 205th is the primary access for all the homes on Quint and one home near the end
of 205th Street. Scandia only has two river access points to use,one being Log House Landing and the
other is William O'Brien State Park. Of the two access points Log House is the only year round access,
William 0'Brien closes their road during winter months and in the spring the access may be closed due
to flooding and also becomes hard to pass when the water levels are low.We do not have these issues
with Log House since it's a city road and on the main channel. Per the International Fire Code and NFPA,
all roads supplying access need to be a minimum of 20 feet in width for adequate apparatus placement
and firefighter safety.
Many of the homes in this area have long driveways that create a logistical challenge for the fire
department.This road needs improved access to keep everyone safe with help from the City Council. In
closing the Fire Department recommends that 205th Street should be a minimum of 20 feet wide from
Quinnell to the end with adequate space at the landing for fire apparatus traffic.
I have also attached a sheet from the USFA web site relating to road width.
Thank you,
Scandia Fire Chief
Mike Hinz
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r'"�, � � Access and Water Supplies: Fire Apparatus Access Road Widths
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- � Learning Objective: The student shall be able to identify the minimum required road widths for fire upparatus access.
Often it seems there is an iinmutable coliflict among property owners, land use planners, and
emergency response officials over the width of roads in some neighborhoods. Property owners
and developers may want to minimize the impact and cost of drivable surfaces while fire officials
are concerned about safe, reasonable access to emergency scenes.
The two model fire codes, the International Fire Code� and NFPA 1�', Uniform Fire Code�"', address the
access road requirement similarly. Both require that a minimum 20-foot-(6.1 m) wide road
reach within 150 feet (45 m) of all portions of the exterior wall of the first story of a building,
measured in an approved route around the exterior.
The illustration shows the importance of the minimum 20-foot-width requirement to help in
firefighting tactics. Modern fire apparatus, especially large aerial equipment, consume a major
part of the driving surface. When ladder trucks or aerial towers have their stabilizing jacks
extended, they use even more of the road.
The purpose of the minimum 20-foot-width
T��' x g { requirement is to enable aerial apparatus to set up, and
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,� �,;,�.�, allow other vehicles to pass safely around stabilizers and
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^ ��. �'�'�r .`Y� � personnel who may be working around the vehicle. If
�a�F �� Y�-- � '�' �. large diameter supply hoses or smaller handlines must
=-�:�''�'�'�� k, ,. ��'�P'��°'� be deployed, fire apparatus needs to get around them as
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Photo�oU,tes,,,,;g;,an�Hose co,,,pan,,,E,,,,,,;isbu,g,Mary,a„d. The fire code official has the authority under the model
An aerial apparatus with its stabilizers extended and codes to require even greater road widths if there are
an engine take up the bulk of this paved road width. tTdfflC, topographical, weather, or safety considerations
that may affect access.
Next time someone asks about the need for minimum
20-foot-wide fire access roads, show them this picture
and explain the firefighter safety and operational
considerations.
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