Nat'l Fire Pro. Assn. StandardsCITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
May 31, 2001
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
NFPA 1710
Fire Chief Dan Brown is recommending that the City of Dubuque appeal a World Fire
Safety Congress recommendation for the National Fire Protection Association
Standards Council to approve a new standard numbered 1710.
The main points of the standard pertain to response times, minimum staffing for engine
and ladder companies and initial full alarm assignment capabilities as well as
emergency medical responses.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
E. Daniel Brown, Fire Chief
City Manager's Office
50 West 13th Street
Dubttqtte, Iowa 52001-4864
[319) 589-4110
(3~t 9) 389-4149 FAX
May 31 2001
Mr. Gary Taylor, Chair
Members of the NFPA Standards Council
Attn: Casey Grant, Secretary to the Council
1 Batterymarch Park
P.O. Box 9101
Quincy, MA 02269-9101
Dear Chair Taylor and Members of the NFPA Standards Council:
The Dubuque City Council has approved the filing of an appeal of proposed NFPA
Standard 1710.
.This standard does not take into consideration the individual cities and the unique
situation they present for Fire Departments. Also, Standard 1710 presents an unfunded
mandate to the City of Dubuque.
We urge you to concur with our appeal.
Sincerely,
MCVM:jh
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
May 31, 2001
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: E. Daniel Brown, Fire Chief
SUBJECT: NFPA 1710
A new standard that addresses the organization and deployment of fire suppression
operations, emergency medical operations and special operations to the public by
career fire departments known as NFPA 1710 has been proposed for approval by the
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
At the World Fire Safety Congress held in California on May 16, 2001, a vote was held
on the standard and approved. The NFPA Standards Council will meet in mid-July for
the final approval and adoption of Standard NFPA 1710.
The main points of the Standard pertain to response times, minimum staffing for engine
and ladder companies and initial full alarm assignment capabilities as well as
emergency medical responses.
The Standard requires a four-minute or less response time for the arrival of the first
engine company at a fire suppression incident and eight minutes or less for the
deployment of full first alarm assignment. It also requires a four-minute or less arrival of
a unit with a first responder level or higher at a medical emergency and eight minutes or
less for the arrival of an advanced life support unit (paramedic), with a performance
objective of ninety percent (90%).
The Standard requires minimum company staffing rules with engine companies having
a minimum of four on-duty personnel, truck and ladder companies having a minimum of
four on-duty personnel and areas with technical hazards, high hazard occupancies, high
incident frequencies, geographical restrictions or other pertinent factors will be required
with a minimum of five or six-on duty members
The initial full alarm assignment capability requires the following positions with
personnel assignments be established:
Incident Commander (1)
Water Supply/Pump Operator (1)
Attack Hose Line (2)
Back-up Hose Line (2)
One Support Person for each hose line (2)
Seamh and Rescue Team (2)
Ventilation Team (2)
Rapid Intervention Team (2)
for a total of 14 firefighting personnel for the initial full alarm assignment..
Due to the fact that NFPA is trying to write a blanket standard that fits all Fire
Department operations across the nation and does not take into consideration the
individual cities and unique situations they present for Fire Departments, it also presents
an unfunded mandate and budget considerations that are not addressed, therefore I
believe that the City should voice its opposition of the Standard to the NFPA Standards
Council.
Appeals to this Standard may be presented not later than June 8, 2001 to the National
Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Standards Council, One Batterymarch Park,
Quincy, MA, 02269.
EDB/Is