New fire regulations up for approval

Just 450 gallons of water at the right moment can make the difference between a deadly house fire and a relative nuisance.

New regulations that contain a variety of options for those seeking to build a new home more than 1,000 feet from a fire hydrant are scheduled to be heard 1 p.m. Tuesday at the East Fork Fire Protection District offices in Minden.

The district held two sparsely attended workshops on the new regulations for those in the trades.

“We just need clarity,” Genoa Co. Owner Roger Falcke said at a Dec. 6 meeting with the fire district. “It’s been confusing for a while.”

East Fork Fire Investigator Patrick Mooneyhan said getting water on a fire in its early stages can help save a home and its owners.

The district started work on the new regulations after Douglas County commissioners voted 3-2 to repeal the fire sprinkler ordinance that had been in place for three years.

During that time, the district reviewed 1,029 plans and required sprinklers in 109 homes that were more than 1,000 feet from a hydrant. Over the past three months the district conducted 28 reviews. Of those, eight homes would have been required to install residential sprinklers.

One issue is that many of those homes are located in areas without fire hydrants, which means firefighters have to bring water if they’re to douse a blaze.

For those new homes more than 1,000 feet from a hydrant, options include installing a sprinkler system, installation and maintenance of a year-around water tank and a fire alarm system, or a one-time service fee dedicated to support the ability to transport water.

Homes larger than 5,000 square feet are required to install a sprinkler system under current county code.

One of the issues for builders is that homes far enough from a hydrant to trigger the regulation are likely to be served by a well.

During the Dec. 6 session, Mooneyhan described a Talco Fire System home hydrant system, which can be installed in any heated space and has 450 gallons of water and its own pump. Homeowners would still need to install the pipes and sprinklers, but once in place it would provide water to the sprinkler heads.

He said a fire that set off the system would get immediate water, which is important to giving residents a chance to get out and firefighters time to respond.

“A fire doubles in size every 30 seconds it burns,” he said. “Your home is going to be fully involved by the time we show up on scene. The whole house will be on fire by the time we get there and we’re going to need more water.”

Chief Tod Carlini said the district is obligated to adopt regulations and enforce them.

“We hope what we’re trying to bring forward does actually provide some options for development, for contractors and for owner-builders,” he said. “Our business is separate from the county’s by law.

The meeting is 1 p.m. Tuesday in the district offices, 1694 County Road, Minden.

To listen online, call 775-782-9040 or email hmegee@estforkfire.org.