2020-05-20 MFD
MERIDIAN FIRE DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
DATE: 5/18/2020
TO: Alan Tiefenbach
REVIEWER: Joseph Bongiorno, Deputy Chief of Prevention 208-888-1234
SUBJECT: H-2020-0025
PROJECT NAME: Chukar Ridge PP
Fire Department Summary of Report:
Overview: This project can be serviced by the Meridian Fire Department. There are issues with the
preliminary plat that will need to be addressed by the applicant. See Item 4.
1. Fire Response Time Travel time from nearest fire station (level of service expectation goal = 5 minutes)
Part of this development falls within the 5 minute response time area as shown on the priority growth
map. Once SH-16 is constructed, the response time will be considerably longer until fire station 7 is
constructed and operational. It is nearest to Fire Station 2. This fire station is approximately 3.1 miles
from the project.
Once Station 7 is built:
2. Resource reliability Current reliability of closest fire station (Reliability Goal is 80% or greater)
This development is closest to Fire Station #2. Current reliability is 76% from this station and does
not meet the targeted goal of 80% or greater.
3. Risk Identification Risk Factor (1=residential, 2=residential with hazards, 3=commercial,
4=commercial with hazards, 5=industrial)
This proposed commercial development has a risk factor of 2, in which current resources would not
be adequate to supply service to this propose project. Risk factors include an open waterway on the
project site. Water rescue teams would have to be mutal aided from another department. Other
hazards may be found once the development is completed.
4. Accessibility Roadway Access, traffic, Radio Coverage
This project meets all required access, road widths and turnarounds. The shared drives shall have an
address sign at each entrance and the roadways shall be maintained 365 days a year for fire, EMS and
police responses. The ends of the common driveways shall be signed “No Parking Fire Lane” per
appendix D of the 2015 IFC.
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Approved secondary access:
From the developer:
“The Chukar Ridge Subdivision has three primary points of access, McMillan Road, Ustick Road, and
McDermott Road. Access from Ustick and McMillan will be on paved, public ACHD roadways (orange).
These public roadways, shown in orange, are currently under construction and completion is anticipated
this calendar year. The McDermott access route is an all-weather, gravel road that will be constructed by
West Ada Schools south of, and adjacent to the McFadden Drain. This gravel roadway, shown in red, will
be completed in the summer of 2020. This gravel road lies within a permanent utility easement granted to
the City of Meridian. This drive access will extend from McDermott Road on the east, across our north
edge and then turn south and connect to the public collector street that is on the north edge of the high
school site. Access from the gravel drive into the subdivision is depicted in the enlargement below near the
north east corner of the site.
At some point in time, currently unknown, the HWY 16 extension will be constructed between McDermott
Road and this subdivision. The timing of the hwy 16 project is unknown but we are planning for this
inevitable condition. First and foremost, the connection of N. Owyhee Storm Ave. will be completed north
to McMillan Rd. and provide a second access to Achievement Street. Second, north of the Chukar Ridge
Sub is the second phase of Gander Creek which will be developed with a stub street to Chukar Ridge near
the north west corner of the development. I have talked with representatives of the Gander Creek Sub and
they have indicated that phase 2 drawings are approved and construction is anticipated in the mid to late
summer of 2021. This will ensure that the stub street is constructed and available prior to hwy 16
improvements. This will allow for secondary access from the north, through Gander Creek, and into the
north east corner of Chukar Ridge Sub. Additionally, the two 40 acre parcels south of our development are
either submitted or in design for residential development which will provide access to the south. “
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5. Specialty/Resource needs
a. Aerial device needed for development (more than 30’ in height)?
i. If yes, is one available within a 12 minute travel time goal
This proposed project will not require an aerial device. The closest truck company is 13 minutes
travel time (under ideal conditions) to the proposed development, and therefore the Fire Department
cannot meet this need in the required timeframe if a truck company is required. This fire station is
approximately 7.1 miles from the project
b. Other specialty needs (water rescue, hazmat, and technical rescue)?
i. If yes, is one available within a 5 minute travel time?
In the event of a hazmat event, there will need to be mutual aid required for the
development. In the event of a structure fire an additional truck company will be required. This
will require additional time delays as a second truck company is not available in the city. Water
rescue teams would have to be mutal aided from another department in the event of a water
rescue.
6. Water Supply (list expectations)
Water supply for this proposed development requires 1000 gallons per minute for one hour.
(Approximate – see appendix B of the 2015 International Fire Code) The fire flow requirements may
be less if the building is fully sprinklered.
7. Other Comments
Project specific comments are listed below.
***All IFC code sections per 2015 IFC or as noted***
RESOURCE AVAILABILITY - Fire Flow and Water Supply:
1. Fire Flow: One and two family dwellings not exceeding 3,600 square feet require a fire-
flow of 1,000 gallons per minute for a duration of 1 hours to service the entire project.
One and two family dwellings in excess of 3,600 square feet require a minimum fire flow
as specified in Appendix B of the International Fire Code. Fire Hydrant spacing shall be
provided as required by Appendix C of the International Fire Code.
2. Water Supply: Final Approval of the fire hydrant locations shall be by the Meridian Fire
Department or their designee in accordance with International Fire Code Section (IFC)
508.5.4 as follows:
a. Fire hydrants shall have a Storz LDH connection in place of the 4 ½” outlet. The
Storz connection may be integrated into the hydrant or an approved adapter may be
used on the 4 1/2" outlet.
b. Fire hydrants shall have the Storz outlet face the main street or parking lot drive aisle.
c. Fire hydrants shall be placed on corners when spacing permits.
d. Fire hydrants shall not have any vertical obstructions to outlets within 10’.
Fire hydrants shall be placed 18” above finished grade to the center of the Storz
e.
outlet.
f. Fire hydrants shall be provided to meet the requirements of the Meridian Water Dept.
Standards.
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g. Show all proposed or existing hydrants for all new construction or additions to
existing buildings within 1,000 feet of the project.
3. Water Supply: Where a portion of the facility or building hereafter constructed or moved
into or within the jurisdiction is more than 400 feet (122 m) from a hydrant on a fire apparatus
access road, as measured by an approved route around the exterior of the facility or building,
on-site fire hydrants and mains shall be provided where required by the code official as
set forth in International Fire Code Section 507.5.1. For buildings equipped throughout
with an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section
903.3.1.1 or
903.3.1.2 the distance requirement shall be 600 feet (183).
a. For Group R-3 and Group U occupancies, the distance requirement shall be 600 feet
(183 m).
b. For buildings equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system
installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2, the distance requirement
shall be 600 feet (183 m).
4. Water Supply: All R-2 occupancies with 3 or more units shall be required to be fire
sprinkled as set forth in International Fire Code Section 903.2.8.
ACCESSIBILITY - Fire Department Roadways, Access and Addressing:
5. Roadways: In accordance with International Fire Code Section 503.2.5 and Appendix D,
any roadway greater than 150 feet in length that is not provided with an outlet shall be
required to have an approved turn around. Phasing of the project may require a temporary
approved turn around on streets greater than 150' in length with no outlet. Cul-D-Sacs shall
be 96’ in diameter minimum and shall be signed “No Parking Fire Lane” per International
Fire Code Sections 503.3 & D103.6. There shall be two no parking fire lane signs on each
side of the entrance to the Cul-D-Sac and one sign at the head.
6. Roadways: When required by the Fire Marshall, “No Parking Fire Lane” signs shall be
used per appendix D of the 2015 IFC. No other signs shall be approved:
a.
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7. Roadways: All entrances, internal roads, drive aisles, and alleys shall have a turning radius
of 28’ inside and 48’ outside, per International Fire Code Section 503.2.4.
8. Roadways: All common driveways shall be straight or have a turning radius of 28’ inside
and 48’ outside and have a clear driving surface of 20’ in width capable of supporting an
imposed weight of 80,000 GVW, per International Fire Code Section 503.2.
9. Roadways: All common driveways shall be maintained at all times for access by fire,
police and EMS at all times of the year.
10. Roadways: Private Alleys and Fire Lanes shall have a 20’ wide improved surface
capable of supporting an imposed load of 80,000 lbs. All roadways shall be marked “No
Parking Fire Lane” per International Fire Code Sections 503.3 & D103.6.
11. Roadways: Requirements for dead-end fire apparatus access roads that are between 500’-
750’ in length are as follows: 1) Roadways shall be built to Ada County Highway District
cross section standards and have a clear driving surface of 26-feet in width available at all
times and shall have no parking. Both sides of the street shall be signed “No Parking Fire
Lane” per appendix D of the IFC; 2) Streets less than 32-feet in width shall have no parking
on one side. One side of the street shall be signed “No Parking Fire Lane” per appendix D of
the IFC; and 3) Streets more than 39-feet in width shall be allowed to have parking on
both sides. These measurements shall be based on the drivable surface dimension. Special
approval is required for access roads over 750’ in length per International Fire Code Section
D103.6.1 and D103.6.2. The roadway shall be able to accommodate an imposed load of
80,000 GVW.
12. Roadways: To increase emergency access to the site a minimum of two points of access
will be required for any portion of the project which serves more than 30 homes, as set
forth in International Fire Code Section D107.1. The two entrances should be separated by
no less than ½ the diagonal measurement of the full development as set forth in International
Fire Code Section D104.3. The applicant shall provide an additional stub street to the
property. .
13. Roadways: The roadways shall be built to Ada County Highway District cross section
standards and have a clear driving surface. Streets less than 26’ in width shall have no on-
street parking. Both sides of the street shall be signed “No Parking Fire Lane” per appendix D
of the IFC; streets less than 32’ in width shall have parking only on one side. One side of the
street shall be signed “No Parking Fire Lane” per appendix D of the IFC. These measurements
shall be based on the drivable surface dimension exclusive of shoulders. The roadway shall
be able to accommodate an imposed load of 80,000 GVW as set forth in International
Fire Code Section 503.2.1 and D103.6.1 and D103.6.2.
14. Roadways: Emergency response routes and fire lanes shall not be allowed to have traffic
calming devices installed without prior approval of the Fire Code Official. National Fire
Protection IFC 503.4.1.
15. Access: Fire lanes, streets, and structures (including the canopy height of mature trees) shall
have a vertical clearance of 13’6 as set forth in International Fire Code Section 503.2.1.
16. Access: Operational fire hydrants, temporary or permanent street signs, and access roads with
an all-weather surface are required to be installed before combustible construction material
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is brought onto the site, as set forth in International Fire Code Section (IFC) 501.4.
Access:
17. Secondary emergency access routes shall be protected from illegal entry by a
gate or collapsible bollards as set forth in IFC 503.5. An example would be the
MaxiForce Collapsible bollards that is hydrant wrench activated or an approved
equal.
18. Access: All portions of the buildings located on this project must be within 150’ of a
paved surface as measured around the perimeter of the building as set forth in International
Fire Code Section 503.1.1.
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