AGENDA #4h
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Maintenance and Storage of Fire Safety Trailer
DATE: September 24, 2001
The attached resolution would authorize the Town Manager to provide storage, basic maintenance and liability insurance for the Fire Safety House that is owned by the Orange County Fire Chief’s Council. The Chapel Hill Fire Department would also be responsible for administering use of the house.
The Fire Safety House is a mobile classroom, 29 feet long, that is used primarily to teach burn prevention and fire escape techniques to children. It is a scaled down version of a two-story home with fully operational kitchen appliances, air conditioning and a fireplace (that uses an electric light bulb to simulate flame). There is a command center, where staff can operate a simulated smoke machine and observe the reactions of the children on a monitor, via cameras located in each room. Smoke alarms are placed throughout the house and activation of the smoke machine will, in turn, activate the smoke alarm. Once the smoke alarm sounds, participants practice safe evacuation procedures, such as crawling low through the smoke to exit, then proceeding to the designated family meeting place.
The Orange County Fire Chief’s Council took on the task of raising the $22,000 to make this project a reality by asking for and receiving donations from various organizations, including the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School System, Orange County School System and UNC Hospitals. Many fire departments within the County also contributed funds to help purchase the Fire Safety House. A significant donation came from the family of the late Carol Warren, who served as Fire Department Secretary for over 29 years. The Town of Chapel Hill is being requested to contribute to this project in the form of maintenance storage and administering the Children’s Fire Safety House.
The anticipated annual maintenance items and costs depend on the amount of use, but are expected to involve minimal time and costs of only a few hundred dollars.
The Fire Department already has a vehicle capable of towing this unit, so we do not anticipate any additional costs before putting this teaching trailer to use. In addition, guidelines governing use of the house by all Orange County Fire Departments will describe how it is to be used, a minimum number of personnel required, and safety behaviors to be taught. If an item is broken while a specific department is using the house, that department will be financially responsible for repairs.
That the Council adopt the attached resolution authorizing the manager to provide storage, maintenance, administration of and insurance for the Fire Safety House, owned by the Orange County Fire Chief’s Council.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MANAGER TO PROVIDE STORAGE, MAINTENANCE, ADMINISTRATION OF AND INSURANCE FOR THE FIRE SAFETY HOUSE, OWNED BY THE ORANGE COUNTY FIRE CHIEF’S COUNCIL (2001-09-24/R-6)
WHEREAS, the Orange County Fire Chief’s Council raised $22,000 in donations from various organizations, including a significant donation from the family of the late Carol Warren, who served as Fire Department Secretary for over 29 years, for the Fire Safety House, a mobile classroom that is used primarily to teach burn prevention and fire escape techniques to children;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Town Manager is authorized to provide storage, maintenance, administration of and insurance for the Fire Safety House, owned by the Orange County Fire Chief’s Council.
This the 24th day of September, 2001.