48 replies to this topic

[Robert Giacometti]

This is bordering on a Supermom type post...

I'm curious, have you learned anything from some of the comments on here and do you still feel the same way?

[nomad]

I'm curious, have you learned anything from some of the comments on here and do you still feel the same way?

Here's what I gather:

1. Do your homework when you buy a home, consider things like is there a fire station nearby. (I did this BTW)

2. Nobody seems to know what an acceptable response time is, it's all hearsay and "supposed to be."

3. If that same fire unit responded 3 times to the same fire I bet you the avg time would be lower. 1 data point does not make a good argument. Maybe they spent 2 minutes trying to get out from behind an old lady driver? How do you fix that?

[Robert Giacometti]

Here's what I gather:

1. Do your homework when you buy a home, consider things like is there a fire station nearby. (I did this BTW)

2. Nobody seems to know what an acceptable response time is, it's all hearsay and "supposed to be."

3. If that same fire unit responded 3 times to the same fire I bet you the avg time would be lower. 1 data point does not make a good argument. Maybe they spent 2 minutes trying to get out from behind an old lady driver? How do you fix that?

Thanks for responding and sharing your thoughts. I wasn't mad at you for your previous post and please don't feel like I'm trying to make this personal, because its not.

The Planning Process for development includes establishing standards and ensuring those standards are maintained. This is how desirable communities are built!

Response times by Fire and Police are a key componet in making communities a desirable place to work n live. We, the community get to decide what we want our response times to be. I recall our previous 4 minute response times being touted many many times to future residents and possible employers looking for a community to move too.

In the planning of Communities that are growing, growth should be managed so that services can be delivered and maintained in a manner that is consistent with our standards. This philosophy has gone out the window with our current council, who approves growth based upon maximizing profits of the landowners and then trying to figure out how to deliver public services after the fact.

The Council should have only approved E.R with a centrally located Fire Station that could have responded by meeting our adopted standard of response times. They didn't do this because it would probably reduce the amount of profit for the landowner/developer.

There are too many areas of E.R. that response times aren't up to the community standards, because of the Councils actions. It was only a matter of time until an incident like this happened and illustrated this. Fortunately no lives were lost and damages were kept under control, this time!

Its only a matter of when, until we suffer a greater loss due to not having an adequate number of staffed fire stations! When this happens it won't be because of some perfect storm, but probably because of poor planning.

I'm just the messenger, trying to get more people to think and understand how things happen, so maybe more will become more proactive in maintaining our desirability within Folsom. Our quality of life is detoriating here in Folsom and it doesn't have to be this way!

[Carl G]

I believe the closest fire station is 2.2 miles away, or about a six minute drive.

Fire Station Route

[ducky]

I believe the closest fire station is 2.2 miles away, or about a six minute drive.

Fire Station Route

That actually looks like quite a ways, especially if you factor in those that don't pull to the right for emergency vehicles. And your maps starts a little bit north of the fire station at Oak Ave Pkwy and Blue Ravine.

They at one time had plans for a fire station with architectural drawings and everything. They called it Fire Station 39 and a city document said, paraphrasing, "This station will close a performance gap currently being served by crews from Station 37 on Clarksville Road and Station 38 on Blue Ravine Road at Oak Avenue Parkway."

The response time didn't sound that bad, but I suppose if it were your house on fire or your spouse who had a heart attack it would be forever. We once watched the station on Clarksville respond to something at the soccer fields at Kemp and it took about 4 minutes.

[Carl G]

That actually looks like quite a ways, especially if you factor in those that don't pull to the right for emergency vehicles. And your maps starts a little bit north of the fire station at Oak Ave Pkwy and Blue Ravine.

They at one time had plans for a fire station with architectural drawings and everything. They called it Fire Station 39 and a city document said, paraphrasing, "This station will close a performance gap currently being served by crews from Station 37 on Clarksville Road and Station 38 on Blue Ravine Road at Oak Avenue Parkway."

The response time didn't sound that bad, but I suppose if it were your house on fire or your spouse who had a heart attack it would be forever. We once watched the station on Clarksville respond to something at the soccer fields at Kemp and it took about 4 minutes.

I've always heard a fire doubles in size every two minutes, but there appears to be some discrepancy. A six minute response verses a four minute response could easily be hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage.

Having said that, if you look at the map, about the only place more remote is the end of Freshwick Drive. If you want to buy in remote areas with limited access you need to take some responsibility for the consequences and plan accordingly.

[nomad]

I've always heard a fire doubles in size every two minutes, but there appears to be some discrepancy. A six minute response verses a four minute response could easily be hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage.

Having said that, if you look at the map, about the only place more remote is the end of Freshwick Drive. If you want to buy in remote areas with limited access you need to take some responsibility for the consequences and plan accordingly.

1. Do your homework when you buy a home, consider things like is there a fire station nearby.

[Robert Giacometti]

1. Do your homework when you buy a home, consider things like is there a fire station nearby.

Don't forget the City relocated fire stations about 12 ( ?) years ago, so if you bought your home thinking you were close and they moved it after you bought, it kinda defeats that thinking.

The key to all this is to adequately create a master plan, that meets our City's standards and to make sure its completed, instead of cutting corners to fool ourselves that we are saving something! Those savings typically end up as additional profit for the developer and we as a community suffer lower standards!

[Robert Giacometti]

I've always heard a fire doubles in size every two minutes, but there appears to be some discrepancy. A six minute response verses a four minute response could easily be hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage.

Having said that, if you look at the map, about the only place more remote is the end of Freshwick Drive. If you want to buy in remote areas with limited access you need to take some responsibility for the consequences and plan accordingly.

What would have happened if Station 38 was out on an existing call when this fire broke out, how much longer would have the response time been?

I agree individuals have responsibility when purchasing their homes. However, I think the greater burden of responsibility remains with the city over its planning to ensure that ALL areas of the city are developed in a manner that receive the same level of service. The city shouldn't be approvong development in areas that it can't deliver services to meet its standards!

When the City approves development in a manner that it can't deliver services that meet our adopted standards, it lowers the quality of life for all of us!

The city has the funds to build the Fire station in E. R,, but they are spending the funds to operate it on other things. The Lawsuit over affordable housing, could be settled and those funds could be used to staff the Fire Station! The Affordable Housing lawsuit isn't benefiting anyone of us N50, its to maximize profits for future development S50, so they don't have to build affordable housing as they build homes!

[Carl G]

What would have happened if Station 38 was out on an existing call when this fire broke out, how much longer would have the response time been?

I agree individuals have responsibility when purchasing their homes. However, I think the greater burden of responsibility remains with the city over its planning to ensure that ALL areas of the city are developed in a manner that receive the same level of service. The city shouldn't be approvong development in areas that it can't deliver services to meet its standards!

When the City approves development in a manner that it can't deliver services that meet our adopted standards, it lowers the quality of life for all of us!

The city has the funds to build the Fire station in E. R,, but they are spending the funds to operate it on other things. The Lawsuit over affordable housing, could be settled and those funds could be used to staff the Fire Station! The Affordable Housing lawsuit isn't benefiting anyone of us N50, its to maximize profits for future development S50, so they don't have to build affordable housing as they build homes!

I would like a fire fighter to confirm this, but I believe that when station 38 gets a call, other stations are put on alert to back fill should there be a need. They may even reposition some equipment to keep response times shorter.

I was one of those families affected by the moving of the fire station from Blue Ravine and Prarie City. From what I've seen response time here in Natoma Station are still very good.

[supermom]

I blame Steve Miklos, he should know better about required response times but he's probably blinded by the bright developer dollar signs

?

[ducky]

?

I think it's a reference to the fact that Steve Miklos used to be a fire fighter in So Cal. until he went out on a back injury or something. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[Bombero]

I would like a fire fighter to confirm this, but I believe that when station 38 gets a call, other stations are put on alert to back fill should there be a need. They may even reposition some equipment to keep response times shorter.

I was one of those families affected by the moving of the fire station from Blue Ravine and Prarie City. From what I've seen response time here in Natoma Station are still very good.

Back filling stations does not happen unless there is a significant event in Folsom and then for the most part it is Metro Fire or El Dorado Hills that back fills. If any one of the stations is on a single event call and another call occurs in that stations area response times are increased. That is true regardless for the outer reaches of the Empire Ranch development. The "City Gate" report identified a huge gap in coverage and response times in that area. That is why the Empire Ranch station was recommended and approved by the council. There was a comprehensive and fiscally responsible plan in place to provide for staffing and equipment at that station. Again, ask the council why they dropped the station. It was not just about money... let's see if they will tell you the truth... bet they don't....

[ducky]

Back filling stations does not happen unless there is a significant event in Folsom and then for the most part it is Metro Fire or El Dorado Hills that back fills. If any one of the stations is on a single event call and another call occurs in that stations area response times are increased. That is true regardless for the outer reaches of the Empire Ranch development. The "City Gate" report identified a huge gap in coverage and response times in that area. That is why the Empire Ranch station was recommended and approved by the council. There was a comprehensive and fiscally responsible plan in place to provide for staffing and equipment at that station. Again, ask the council why they dropped the station. It was not just about money... let's see if they will tell you the truth... bet they don't....

I am curious. It looks like they were all ready to go and then it just got dropped. If it wasn't about money, what was it?