Title
Acceptance of Contribution for Petroleum Firefighting Equipment
Action
Action:
A. Authorize the City Manager to accept a contribution in the amount of $38,000 from Chambers Engineering for the purchase of equipment to fight petroleum based fires, and
B. Adopt a budget ordinance appropriating $38,000 from Chambers Engineering in the General Capital Equipment Fund.
Body
Staff Resource(s):
Pete Key, Fire
Kevin Gordon, Fire
Explanation
* In 2010, Charlotte Fire Department (CFD) began reviewing capabilities to respond to large scale petroleum based fires. The goal was to enhance preparedness and understand the effect of ethanol in gasoline on fighting petroleum based fires.
* Since that time, CFD has partnered with 16 member companies within the Paw Creek Chemical Association Operators group to enable better planning and cooperation in responding to petroleum related fire incidents.
* Upon review, CFD recognized that it would be better able to respond to petroleum based fires if it used a designated truck to house specialized equipment and chemicals.
* Chambers Engineering, as a member of the Paw Creek Chemical Association Operators group and leading expert in ethanol distribution safety has agreed to donate $38,000. The donation will be used to purchase the specialized equipment to mitigate the risks associated with ethanol based fuels being stored and transported throughout the Charlotte area.
* Due to the relatively low frequency of petroleum based fires, CFD plans to use a retired truck chassis and retrofit it with equipment for this purpose.
* This new apparatus would provide CFD the capability to respond to large scale petroleum fires as might occur at industrial petroleum storage facilities or in the event of a fuel tanker spill.
* CFD will use the $38,000 contribution to purchase the foam hauling apparatus which will be added to the truck.
* The total cost of the truck and necessary equipment is approximately $160,000, which will be covered b...
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