06/26/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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people and save property. He noted the presence of smoke and degree of panic and disorientation created m~or problems for those being - evacuated as well as for firefighters. Thus, the presence of smoke and the ability to contain fires, while people are exiting, are the m~or reasons for the proposed amendments. He noted one m~or question Council will hear in testimony this evening will be the cost passed on to renters. He said that was a very legitimate concern. However, he cautioned Council that cost must be balanced against the ability of the community to offset that by either increasing costs for fire suppression at the pUblic expense, or accepting the risk of loss of lives. It was felt there were some relative costs that should be borne by the developer. This amendment is an attempt to reduce those costs by relaxing the previous sprinkler ordinance passed by Council in 1975. Fire Marshal Wendell Wick said the existing ordinance only relates to highrise residential property. He said there were two such buildings that have let bids on the requirements for the highrise ordinance. With the reliability of smoke detectors, it was felt the reduction of the sprinkler systems could be accommodated. Battalion Chief David Boggs reviewed for Council a recent fire in the Willamette Towers, 1313 Lincoln. He noted there had been 13 firefighters and four pieces of apparatus immediately on the scene. However, because of heavy smoke conditions in the building, there were problems in evacuating the tenants, with some being forceably removed. He noted this was not the most spectacular fire, but was e a good example of how the operation can be confused by smoke hazard conditions with elderly people as tenants in a building. Assistant Manager added that the purpose of the proposed system would be to effect a safe exit of the occupants of a building and to contain the fire. Smoke detectors provide an early warning, and the sprinkler system modifications with adequate exitways available would be helpful. Two highrise residential buildings in the community that could not readily meet the requirements are the Eugene Manor and Eugene Hotel. Others would be able to meet the requirements at relatively modest costs. He noted the Eugene Manor presently is under order by the Fire Marshal requiring a one-hour watch all night because it does not meet the present requirements. Mr. Haws questioned what the cost would be to the City to add the required manpower for safety and fire suppression. Assistant Manager noted the fire described by Mr. Boggs in the Willamette Tower in which there were 13 personnel and four pieces of equipment. He said with the proposed modifications and response by the master satellite system, the normal response to a highrise fire, given there are no other multiple alarms in the community, would be eight to nine people with three pieces of equipment. However, he said the issue centered . 6/26/78--2 ~5' I