2b Fire Department Update
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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
FROM:
Gregg Geske- Fire Chief
Sherri Walsh - I st Assistant Chief
Randy Wahl - 2nd Assistant Chief
Mark Littfin- Fire Marshal
Ed Coppersmith - Training Officer
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DATE:
January 13, 2006
SUBJ:
Monthly City Council update
Fire Department Overview:
The Fire Department finished 2005 with 589 calls compared to 565 in 2004. Currently we have 36
active firefighters and a total of 47 PTEs. We took on 9 probationary firefighters in 2005 with 3 of
those helping respond to our west end station.
We had a couple of apartment fires since our last update. At least one of the fires was due to careless
smoking. We also had a couple of carbon monoxide calls where we monitored high levels of CO. I
would like to discuss one of these calls during my council presentation. See the admin section for
copies ofletters from the family members.
Fire Training:
As the new year starts the Fire Department hits the streets running. This month we will be involved
with a class on elevator rescue training and joint operations training which will aid Chanhassen Fire
Department when called upon to assist other departments especially in Hennepin County. Also, our
rookie firefighters are continuing with their basic firefighter skills, obtaining their medical
certifications and hazardous material operations.
Fire Marshal:
The apartment fire investigation from November 30th is complete. Ed and an investigator from the
Carver County Sheriffs Department interviewed the victim at HCMC and got his statement. It is
considerably different than what the fire patterns and investigation showed at the scene. It appeared
Todd Gerhardt
January 13, 2006
Page 2
to have been careless smoking. The victim did receive bums and cuts to his hands and face as well as
smoke inhalation. He was recovering at HCMC for a number of weeks. At this time the case is
closed.
On Saturday, January 7, 2006 the Fire Department again responded to a report of a fire in a different
apartment. The fire was out upon arrival and no one was hurt but we assisted with smoke removal.
This fire was also caused by careless smoking. Interestingly enough, in six of our recent serious
fires, careless smoking was the cause of four of them.
Fire Inspections:
New construction projects are slow at this time. Buildings under construction include Walgreens, the
water treatment plant and Stone Creek Town Offices. There are a number of smaller remodeling
projects going on throughout the city at the present time. Ed and I will be inspecting
office/warehouse buildings in the next few weeks.
Fire Prevention:
Nothing new to report at this time.
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Todd Gerhardt
January 13, 2006
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