HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 224-06City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: FIRE
DATE:MAY 8, 2006 CMR: 224:06
SUBJECT:ACCEPTANCE OF BREATHING SUPPORT UNIT AS A SANTA CLARA
COUNTY MUTUAL MD RESOURCE FOR FIRE AGENCIES
This is an informational report and no Council action is required.
BACKGROUND
In fiscal year 2004, the County of Santa Clara received grant funding through the Urban Area
Securities Initiative (UASI) as part of the Homeland Security funding mechanism to provide
equipment to local fire agencies. Funding totaled $1.2 million and was awarded to purchase and
equip three air/light units that would be strategically placed throughout the County to be used as
mutual aid resources.
In November 2004, a contract was awarded to the vendor to build and equip these units. The
units were manufactured by KME fire apparatus located in Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania. Each
apparatus is identically equipped with a 40kW generator, a mobile breathing air compressor and
two remote air filling stations. The unit has the capability of providing a remote air supply to six
hundred feet and filling multiple self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) bottles
simultaneously at the emergency scene. The unit is also outfitted with state-of-the art portable
and telescoping lighting equipment.
DISCUSSION
In March 2006, Santa Clara County took delivery of the air/light units. The City of Palo Alto is
designated by the County Fire Chiefs as one of the three strategic locations for these units. The
Palo Alto Fire Department recently received one of the units. They are owned by the County of
Santa Clara and considered part of the mutual aid resources available to all jurisdictions in the
County. Request and deployment of these units are coordinated through the Santa Clara County
Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid Plan. Palo Alto Fire has the responsibility to deploy the unit in the
county when requested and approved as with any other mutual aid resource. While located here
at Fire Station 2, the unit is also available at the discretion of the Incident Commander to large
police/fire emergency incidents occurring in Palo Alto or in situations requiring its specialized
equipment. The frequency for use in mutual aid situations is anticipated to be low.
RESOURCE IMPACT
There is no direct fiscal impact to the City. Policy development, training and maintenance for
this equipment are minimal and will be handled through existing internal fare department training
and city programs.
CMR 224:06 Page 1 of 2
POLICY IIMPLICATIONS
This procedure is consistent with existing City Policies.
Prepared by:NICHOLAS MARINAR0, Fire Chief
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City Manager Approval:
E"~I~ Y ~SON
Assist~t City M~ager
CMR 224:06 Page 2 of 2