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Fire department ready to protect citizens, Biltmore
By HARLAN WEIKLE
Article published on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008 |
BELLEAIR – Few people will ever experience it. Even fewer will ever lose their businesses or homes to this frightening phenomenon, but the specter of fire is a visceral fear that affects all equally.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, between 1997 and 2006, an average of 3,760 Americans lost their lives and another 20,010 were injured annually as the result of fire.
Tuesday night, newly appointed Largo fire Chief Michael Wallace came to Belleair with some statistics of his own and the town, home to the Belleview Biltmore, which is Florida’s largest wooden structure, was listening.
Wallace grew up in Largo and has now returned to head the fire department. He directs among other units, the operations of Engine 43 which responds to fire emergencies, EMS and advanced life support – all part of a tightly woven and unique system of manpower and equipment called perpetual automatic aid.
The system, Wallace explained, allows any fireman on the street the ability to call for assistance without regard to municipal boundaries or political jurisdiction.
“In a matter of minutes I can call in as much manpower as needed simply by using the radio; and that represents a lot of firefighting capability,” Wallace said.
There are 17 departments in the county, with 68 stations from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs manned in three shifts by some 900 professional firefighters. The stations are strategically situated, separated by not more than a mile-and-a-half, which accounts for a response time that averages four minutes from first alarm to insertion, explained Wallace.
“Our goal is to arrive before the dispatcher is finished recording the call,” he said.
Addressing the pending closure and restoration of the historic Belleview Biltmore, Wallace said the department recently completed a close inspection of the structure and is satisfied that the owners have met the safety requirements called for by the National Fire Codes.
“In fact they have been very proactive in achieving this condition,” he said.
When demolition and restoration begins, the resort will be closed, said Wallace, at which time another set of code requirements for vacant structures will be in effect. Smoke detectors, variable heat sensors, the sprinkler system and remote alarm monitoring will then take over as the first line of fire defense for the landmark structure.
If a fire occurs, the chief explained, they can bring in as much firefighting power to the site as required, including a fully charged water line that surrounds the structure. In addition, he said, they have the ability to tap into the integrated water supply from nearby Morton Plant Hospital.
“No one has ever died in a fire in a sprinkler-equipped building,” Wallace said. “The best piece of advice we can give homeowners is that a sprinkler in the kitchen and one in every bedroom saves lives.”
It can cost as little as $200 per sprinkler to retrofit a home, he added.
Candidate qualifying
Two seats on the Town Commission are up for election this March. Commissioners Karla Rettstatt and Tom Shelly have both qualified to seek re-election to their respective seats. There are no declared candidates opposing either. The period for qualifying ends Friday, Jan. 11.
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Article published on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008
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