2b Fire Dept Update
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FIRE DEPT.
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CHANHASSEN FIRE DEPARTMENT
P.O. Box 97 . 7610 Laredo Drive· Chanhassen, MN 55317
Bus. Phone 934-9191 . Minnewashta Station NO.2· Phone 474-7094
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
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FROM:
Gregg Geske- Fire Chief
Sherri Walsh -1 st Assistant Chief
Randy Wahl- 2nd Assistant Chief
Mark Littfin- Fire Marshal
Ed Coppersmith - Training Officer
DATE:
January 18, 2005
SUBJ:
Monthly City Council update
Fire Department Overview:
Staffing is at 43 firefighters as of January 14, 2005, allocation is 45 PTE's.
We finished 2004 with 565 calls compared to 2003 with 831. As of January 9th, we are at 16
calls for the year, down 3 from 19 at the same time 2004. Since our last report we had a couple
of structure fires and supplied mutual aid to Eden Prairie. On January 3rd we had a ceremony for
our seven probationary firefighters graduating them from probation. I will be introducing our
new 1 st Assistant Chief Sherri Walsh during our Fire Department update.
Fire Training:
Training sessions in December were on First Aid and Right to Know. The seven new firefighters
completed all of their requirements for probation.
Fire Inspections:
New construction inspections have leveled off. Buildings currently under construction are
Presbyterian Homes, the assisted living care complex, Life Time Fitness, Park Nicollet Clinic,
Highlands at Bluff Creek town homes, Stone Creek Office Building, Market Street office/retail
complex, Edina Realty and the Goddard School. The Visitor Center at the U ofM Arboretum is
finished and will be moving staff in shortly. Even though this building was inspected by
University inspectors, we were involved with fire sprinkler and fire alarm acceptance tests. We
plan to start inspections of restaurants, daycares, and hotels in the next few weeks.
Todd Gerhardt
January 18, 2005
Page 2
Fire Investigations:
On December 21 st at 1 :41 AM the Fire Department responded to a reported shed fire on Galpin
Boulevard. The fire was quickly extinguished and damage was limited to a portion of the roof.
It appeared the cause of the fire was a woodbuming stove. On Wednesday, January 5th at 5:10
PM, the Department responded to a garage fire on Stone Creek Drive. Flames were visible upon
arrival and again were quickly extinguished. Fire damage was limited to the garage, while the
house sustained minor smoke damage. The cause of this fire was fireplace ashes discarded in the
plastic garbage can in the garage.
Fire Education Activities:
Weare finishing compiling year-end figures and will be passing them on to the Fire Board.