INSIDE

Private roads a problem for Point Roberts fire district

By Meg Olson

A handful of property owners on private roads will be getting notification from the fire department that in the case of an emergency, fire and rescue vehicles may not be able to get to them.

The fire department has had problems over the years with properties that can be accessed only by narrow private driveways and are often too far from a fire hydrant.

“It came to a head this year with a fence put up one third of the way into Berry Lane that would not allow any of our apparatus to get down there,” said fire chief Bill Skinner at the May 9 meeting of the fire district commissioners. “A new home being built there could not get an occupancy permit.”

Commissioners adopted emergency access policies for the district stating that district vehicles would not respond to properties served by roads that would be unsafe for them to use, but that district personnel would try to respond as best they can.

The policy includes minimum standards for private roads as established by Whatcom County: a minimum of 18 feet wide in an easement at least 30 feet wide. The policy also requires overhead clearance of at least 13 feet 6 inches.

“There are areas affected in the West Bluff area, South Beach,” Skinner said. “In some cases it’s just going to be a clearing issue.” However, in others like Berry Lane, property owners who use the roads will have to negotiate with neighboring properties to purchase adequate easements for emergency vehicle access.

The policy also addresses how far some homes are from useable water supply. “The length of water supply hose carried by district fire engines exceeds the minimum National Fire Protection Association standards; however, we are limited in the amount of hose we can carry,” it states. “Improved properties located further than 1,000 feet from a fire hydrant will have limited fire protection due to lack of water.”

County fire inspector Bill Hewett said his department doesn’t review all residential building permits but “anytime we’re dealing with more than 150 feet off a county roadway we would review it.” Hewitt could not comment on the specific case of the recently developed property on Berry Lane that is well outside that limit.

The county also requires homes larger than 4,000 square feet to be within 600 feet of a hydrant, with the idea that a pumper truck could carry enough water to put out a fire in a smaller home. “For the most part the Point is really covered as far as hydrants are concerned,” he said.

Skinner said he would forward a copy of the new district policy to county planning and development and public works departments, as well as the fire marshal’s office, and that all property owners in affected areas would be notified. “It’s important everyone knows,” commissioner Bill Meursing agreed.