Following an outcry from residents worried about losing their properties, the Golden Valley City Council has decided to no longer consider building a new fire station in any spots that would require demolishing private homes, startribune.com reported.

The city at first looked at approximately 130 residential properties as possible sites for the new station, the report said.

• Golden Valley (MN) Might Buy Homes to Build New Fire Station

A fire official said she thinks the loud concerns from homeowners factored into the decision to move away from residential sites, according to the report.

The Golden Valley Fire Department has been looking to consolidate two outlying fire stations into one to serve the eastern side of the city, with enough space for modern equipment and room for firefighters to stay during overnight shifts, the report said.

None of the current three fire stations have bunk rooms, and there are other challenges with the current stations, such as having to back the fire trucks in every time they return.

The city council, the report said, has now narrowed its search to four possible sites, which include:

• Spring Gate Shopping Center at 5621 Duluth St. and 1875 Lilac Dr. N (Feist Automotive gas station).
• Basset Creek office and medical buildings at 5801 and 5851 Duluth St.
• Minnesota Department of Transportation’s west metro headquarters at 2055 Lilac Dr. N.
• The eastern baseball field at Schaper Park, at 631 Ottawa Ave.

The department, which has targeted 2025 to break ground, is hoping to secure $17 million for the project in a state bonding bill, according to the report. Of that amount, $4 million is allocated for land acquisition, which could turn out to be more depending on the site, the fire official said.

Thermal Imaging Manfred Kihn

Firefighters spend a lot of time training. This training is important to keep their skills honed for when they are called on during emergency situations and can include pump and aerial operations, donning and doffing of turnout gear, hose extending and pulling drills, ceiling breach exercises, forcible entry drills, and victim search techniques with victim drags and carries.

Most departments would consider these important for training, but how much time do fire departments devote to specific training with their thermal imagers (TIs)?

TI training shouldn’t just be observing fire behavior and how it looks on the TI’s display screen. It should also include ensuring that the TI is ready for use, image interpretation is understood by the firefighters, and the TI is deployed in all actual firefighting tasks. Some of the basics can be overlooked or taken for granted in training evolutions, but fire departments that ignore them risk that the TI is used ineffectively during emergency operations.

• Thermal Imaging Archives

Deploying the TI

Deploying the TI from an apparatus and attaching it to the personal protective equipment sounds like a very simple task, but when adrenaline is flowing and the action is furious, it can be mismanaged, costing precious time. Firefighters should practice removing the TI from their apparatus or directly from their apparatus charger, if they have one, while wearing the gear they would have on when departing the apparatus. Then, they can practice attaching the TI to their gear or self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). When attaching the TI to the gear, firefighters should find a place that keeps the TI within easy reach but does not interfere with performing basic tasks. Because one of the biggest obstacles to effective TI use is getting the tool to where it is needed, this deployment and attachment process should be a component of every department’s training procedure.

Operating the TI with Gloved Hands

Operating a TI with a gloved hand sounds easy but can be challenging during an emergency operation. Firefighters too often do this in nonemergency situations without wearing gloves and fail to realize the increased difficulty of using a TI in emergency operations. All TIs have buttons that need to be manipulated during different stages of emergency operations. Firefighters need to become familiar with where the power button is located and practice finding it with a gloved hand in the dark and while wearing an SCBA face piece. This helps firefighters learn to capably do this in a sight-denied situation when the unit has been inadvertently powered off or a battery needs to be changed. This training should be extended for all buttons on the TI so firefighters have a good familiarity with the buttons, their locations, and their functions.

Replacing the TI’s Battery

Replacing the battery on a TI can be a challenging task depending on the TI, the size of the battery, and where the spare battery is carried. This task is often practiced in a boardroom type setting with no gloves or gear, but firefighters should do this task with gloved hands in the dark while wearing a face piece to simulate completing this task in the dark or smoky conditions.

Live Training Burns

Firefighters often get the opportunity to participate in training burns. In these

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Shayla Gaulding
The Emporia Gazette
(TNS)

Mar. 18—The Chase County Commission discussed the need for a new fire station in Strong City at its meeting Monday morning at the Chase County Courthouse.

As previously reported by The Leader-News, the current fire station covers only 0.5 acres of land owned by the City of Strong City and is not able to accommodate all of the county’s emergency vehicles. It is also located near the future Strong City splash pad, which has raised concerns about the safety of children playing near the station in the event of an emergency, as well as parking concerns for emergency responders.

Commissioners are considering building a new, 10,200-square-foot facility and abandoning the existing fire station in Strong City. The new station would be 10 bays and include a training room, an office, ADA restrooms, storage and be set up to easily accommodate additions. No location has officially been announced, though a preliminary architectural report from BG Consultants — the architects handling the potential construction — suggested the facilities be located north of Highway 50.

A public hearing date is set for Wednesday, April 5 at 7 p.m. at the Swope Park Community Building in Cottonwood Falls for community input.

Ranson Financial Municipal Consultant Rose Mary Saunders joined the commission via Zoom to discuss financing the project. While an updated cost estimate on the project is still pending, Saunders said the cost for the fire station, including bond costs, is projected to be $1,996,579 before grants.

“The [community service tax credit program, or CPS] we were wanting to apply for, it’s a maximum of $200,000 that we can apply for. It has to be done by a nonprofit,” Saunders said. “We would utilize that [the Emporia Community Foundation Chase County Emergency Services Fund] to apply for the tax credits.

“It’s a way to invest money into the community and for the individual or another foundation or company to get a tax credit on your state taxes,” she explained. “It is a mechanism where you can get a credit on your taxes and still benefit the fire station.”

According to Saunders, the county would be applying to CDBG for $600,000 and another $200,000 from CSP, leaving the county with $1,146,579 in total costs. The county can also look for other funding, Saunders said, including the Sunderland Foundation and the Dane G. Hansen Foundation.

Commissioners approved a grant-writing contract for Saunders for her work on the applications. The contract is for $90 per hour, not to exceed $5,000.

In further business, Commission Chair Tony Hazelton gave an update on ongoing discussions to prevent further salt and moisture damage to the courthouse’s foundation and walls. Hazelton said Michael Clancy of RenoDry, out of Overland Park, is in the process of providing the commission with more references on how a device to remove moisture and salt from the building has worked at other historical buildings.

Hazelton also addressed concerns that the device would need to be installed on the main floor, as it would need to be placed above the water and salt line.

“They would like it on this floor,” Hazelton said. “They want it above the water line, salt line, so they want it on this floor but they could put it in an office or closet or bathroom.”

The commission also:

• Signed a lease agreement with Cottonwood Valley Bank for motor grader financing.
• Discussed various upcoming Road and Bridge projects.
• The Chase County Commission will meet again on March 31 at 9 a.m. at the Chase County Courthouse.

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