HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-1201 Document Submitted at Mtg
Brent Thompson
P.O. Box 201
Ashland, OR 97520
;j December 2009
. To :Ashland City Council
RE: Fire inspection proposal
Dear Mayor and Council,
Regarding inspections for apartments I offer the following.
I: As you know the potential for the largest monetary losses lies in the forest interface
zone which would be above Scenic Avenue on the north (or west) and above the college
in the south. If, as a Council, you are totally satisfied that we have minimized our
potential for disaster in the forest interface zone, then it might be wise to consider using
the resources of the fire department for other things. Unless the hazards in the forest
interface zone have been completely dealt with to minimize losses from a summer wild
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2. As I have not yet read the proposal I wanted to share that commercial buildings are
inspected by insurance companies for safety and hazards. In observing insurance industry
practices it seems that one company will be completive for a time, and then about three
years later that company's premiums rise to where they cease being competitive. It then
becomes wise for the property owner to again seek quotes for insurance. When this
occurs, the building is inspected by the new company for violations and hazards with
action required by the owner.to correct deficiencies.
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3. Regarding apartments, small simple buildings or one story buildings offer no more of
a hazard than a home. I had one fire in 26 years with an $11,000 loss when an unin-
formed young person left the premises with the electric burner on and with a candle on
the stove. The building was 12 units, and no amount of inspections would have really
mattered in averting that loss. My point here is that the threshold for the number of units
where inspections would be required should be high enough where there truly might be a
hazard. I do not have a number of units in mind, but it should be where there is almost a
commercial and complex nature to the apartment building and where more than one story
is involved.
Thank you,
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BrentTh~~
488-0407